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Fast and Loose 



IN 



Dixie. 



AN UNPREJUDICED NARRATIVE OF PERSONAL EX- 
PERIENCE AS A PRISONER OF WAR AT LIBBY, 
MACON, SAVANNAH, AND CHARLESTON, 



WITH AN ACCOUNT OF A DESPERATE LEAP FROM A MOVING 

TRAIN OF CARS, A WEARY TRAMP OF FORTY-FIVE DAYS 

THROUGH SWAMPS AND MOUNTAINS, PLACES 

AND PEOPLE VISITED, ETC., ETC. 



V^ 



BY 



^ 



/ 



J/MADISON DRAKE, 

CAI'TAIN NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS. AND BREVET BRia.-GENERAL N. G. N. J 




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NEW YORK : 

THE AUTHORS' PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

1880. 

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Copyright, 1880. 

By The Authors' Publishing Company, New York. 

all rights reserved. 






PREFACE 



While serving as an officer in the Ninth New Jersey Veteran 
Volunteers, it was my lot to face the enemy in a series of battles on 
the right bank of the James River, Va., in the month of May, 1864, 
where, in a day of gloom and disaster for the Union cause, I was 
taken prisoner. 

With the gallant Heckman, intrepid Belger, and other officers 
whose good opinion it was my privilege to enjoy, I passed a few days 
in Libby Prison, and was successively introduced to other gay and 
festive scenes in the so-called Confederate States. But to men 
thoroughly in earnest to serve their imperilled country, the attractions 
offered for our gratification by rebel officials, failed to make life happy 
in the " Sunny South :" in point of fact, the captives with whom I 
mingled despised the hospitalities tendered. 

Nay, more ; the souls of these brave men animated them to reso- 
lute action to escape from their depressing surroundings. At Macon 
and Savannah carefully devised plans for regaining our liberty re- 
ceived the hearty approval of many who owned that no peril or hard- 
ship should hinder them from again following the old flag as it was 
borne aloft on ensanguined fields ; and weeks of severe toil were 
cheerfully endured in constructing tunnels for escape. 

Though baffled by treachery in a promising enterprise for regain- 
ing our freedom by tunnelling, I conscientiously declare that I never 
ceased to cherish the hope of escape from rebel prisons. True, the 
prospect was gloomy indeed. Confined in fetid strongholds and sur- 
rounded by sleepless sentinels, the boldest at times were ready to 
despair. But even the horrors of Charleston jail-yard (where pesti- 
lence raged, and over and around which bursting shells shrieked 



VI PREFACE. 

wildly, as I lay in the shadow of a hideous gallows) were powerless 
to divert me from seeking a favorable opportunity for flight. In the 
vicissitudes of war I well knew that a brave heart and unceasing 
vigilance would, sooner or later, offer me an opportunity of striking 
for liberty, with some prospect of success. 

After weary waiting, a day memorable in my history dawned some- 
what tmexpectedly. The waning fortunes of the Confederacy were 
now in danger of an overwhelming disaster, as Sherman was prepared 
to pursue his triumphant march from the mountains to the sea, laying 
a heavy hand on a rebellious people. Fear reigned in Confederate 
councils, and desperate efforts were made to avert the threatened 
doom. 

Among other precautions taken was the hustling of several hundred 
captive Union officers into a train of cars, at Charleston, and a swift 
departure for Columbia, where, it was believed, they could be retained 
in bondage. Myself and many of my friends hailed with joy the pro- 
posed change of scene. Four of us resolved to take our lives in our 
hands and leap from the moving train. How we succeeded in our 
carefully considered enterprise is set forth in this little volume. There 
is no attempt at fine writing, neither is it my purpose to seek to create 
a sensation by drawing on a fertile imagination for my facts. Start- 
ling incidents are chronicled, it is true, but their authenticity is attested 
by unimpeachable witnesses. Portions of this narrative have been 
published in Harper's Weekly, in the Philadelphia Thties, Newark 
Advertiser, Albany Press, and other widely circulated journals, but in 
no instance have the interesting facts here stated caused unfriendly 
criticism. 

I have a feeling of pride in pointing to the testimonials herewith 
printed, from soldiers who served their country in the tented field, 
and of whose friendship any man may well feel proud. But for their 
request, seconded by many others, to print this narrative, the MSS. 
would probably still rest in their pigeon holes. 

It is but just to state that in all his rambles, from one prison to 
another, and during his pilgrimage from Charleston to Knoxville, 
through gloomy swamps, over broad savannahs, beside bivouacs in 
mountain fastnesses, and on the snow-covered heights of North Caro- 
lina and Tennessee, the writer jotted down, in a small diary, incidents 
of his daily life. 



PREFACE vii 

The gracious Providence that guided my feet safely when envi- 
roned by perils, and nerved my heart to bear up bravely when ad- 
versity pressed Math heavy hand, enabled me to preserve safely the 
"jottings by the way," and I have found the diary of great advantage 
in writing my narrative. The little memorandum book, though worn 
and faded, faithfully preserved the facts chronicled at the time of their 
occurrence, and I prize it highly as a souvenir. 

J. MADISON DRAKE. 
Elizabeth, N. J., 1880. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER PAGB 

I. — Opening of the Great Campaign ii 

II. — Up the James River 12 

III. — The Battle and the Capture 21 

IV. — On the Way to Libby Prison 27 

V. — Hard Lines 30 

VI. — An Excursion Dixieward 35 

VII. — Arrival in the Cracker State 41 

VIII. — Digging for Liberty 46 

IX. — The Natal Day Celebrated 51 

X. — Another Excursion 54 

XI. — A Ride to the "City by the Sea" 65 

XII. — Meeting Old Friends 71 

XIII. — A Change of Base and a Leap for Liberty. 73 

XIV. — A Start for God's Country 81 

XV. — An Exciting Adventure 87 

XVI. — Fed by Negroes in the Swamps 94 

XVII. — A Run for Life 100 

XVIII. — In the Old North State at Last 107 

XIX. — A Season of Great Distress 113 

XX. — Our Best Friend a Confederate Brigadier. 117 

XXI. — Crossing the Catawba River 122 



X CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XXII.— iV Wretched Family 133 

XXIII. — The Elements at Work 136 

XXIV. — A Blind Man in our Party : 142 

XXV. — Among the Deserters 145 

XXVI. — A Never-to-be-forgotten Sabbath 159 

XXVII.— A Sorrowful Leave-taking 171 

XXVIII.— A Welcome Guest 181 

XXIX. — Barefooted in the Snow 189 

XXX. — A Mutiny among the Deserters 195 

XXXI. — A Battle Above the Clouds 197 

XXXII. — A Friendly Settlement Reached 207 

XXXIII. — A Lame Man Expected to " Fly" 218 

XXXIV. — An Alarm at Midnight 224 

XXXV. — A Terrible Encounter 233 

XXXVI. — A Clap of Thunder in a Clear Sky 23S 

XXXVII. — Guerillas Catch us Napping 245 

XXXVIII. — How I Obtained Shoes and Stockings 249 

XXXIX. — A Noble-Hearted People 259 

XL.— Hail ! Flag of the Free! 264 

XLI. — Threatened with the Guard-house 271 

XLII. — No Foolin' dis Time 279 

XLIII. — Home Again 290 

APPENDIX. 

I. — Documentary Substantiation 297 

II. — Historic Substantiation 303 

III. — Captain Seth B. Ryder 305 

IV. — The Ninth New Jersey Regiment 307 



FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE 



CHAPTER I. 

OPENING OF THE GREAT CAMPAIGN. 

EARLY in the Spring of 1864, those of us who 
were inured to war, pronounced it folly to 
imagine that we were to have a pleasant Summer. 
From the immense preparations that were being put 
forth on every hand, and from the fact that the 
greatest soldier of the age — General Ulysses S. 
Grant — had been placed in supreme command of the 
Union forces, we became satisfied that we would 
speedily be engaged in fierce conflict with our foes. 
Confident that truth and justice would triumph, we 
were eager to again meet the enemy, although we 
knew we should often be exposed to fearful perils. 
If accident befel us, we would cherish the consola- 
tion that we were suffering in a glorious cause, and 
this thought alone sustained me during many pain- 
ful hours, spent in rebel prison-pens. 

Our division of the i8th Corps, which had been in 
Winter quarters at Getty's Station, a few miles above 



12 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

Norfolk, Va., broke camp on the 26th of April, and 
at noon next day, disembarked at Yorktown. During 
our brief stay here, we were ** reviewed " by various 
officers, and marched toward Williamsburg and 
Richmond — then back again. On the third day of 
May, the loth Corps re-embarked, followed next 
morning by the i8th Corps — the vessels coming to 
anchor off Fortress Monroe early that evening. 



CHAPTER II. 

UP THE JAMES RIVER. 

A ROCKET sent up at midnight from the mag- 
nificent steamboat '* Greyhound," upon which 
General Butler had his headquarters, was the signal 
to weigh anchor, and when the sun on the morning 
of the 5th gilded the eastern horizon, the Armada, 
preceded by fifteen gunboats, several of them moni- 
tors, was many miles from the starting point. My 
duties as " officer of the day" were not particularly 
irksome. Passing City Point, we saw the flag of 
truce steamer which had the previous day arrived to 
exchange prisoners. I apprehend that the boat was 
sent up as a sort of a " blind," to cover the tracks of 
the expedition ; if so, it was a success in this respect, 
for the rebels on the wharf looked bewildered as 
they saw steamer after steamer pass beyond, in the 
direction of Richmond. Troops, before nightfall, 
were hastily debarked on Bermuda Hundred — the 



UP THE JAMES RIVER. 1 3 

*' Star " brigade — to which I belonged — being the 
first to reach the low-ribbed shore. We marched a 
couple of miles in order to '' cover " the landing, put 
out piquets, then bivouaced for the night. An occa- 
sional shot was all that disturbed our tranquillity. 

The morning of the 6th broke clear and fair, 
auguring well for our enterprise. The order to 
" move forward " was given at daybreak, the writer, 
with Company D, 9th N. J. Vols., being honored 
with the extreme advance. We saw nothing of the 
enemy for several hours, and began to imagine that 
the road to Richmond was open at last, but toward 
noon we were aroused from our lethargy, and con- 
vinced by ocular proof that the enemy had left no 
loop-hole by which we could enter the city. We 
soon became satisfied that we had work to do, for 
now, instead of desultory firing, the Johnnies ap- 
peared in numbers, contesting every foot of the 
way. We knew, however, that it was only a ques- 
tion of time, so we pushed forward, with an immense 
force at our back. At noon, the enemy made what, 
at first, promised to be a determined stand at Chap- 
in's farm, but when they saw a flank movement 
threatening their left, they beat a hurried retreat in 
the direction of Walthall Junction. Our intrepid 
commander, followed by his brigade, was soon after 
ambushed — the brigade being badly cut up in the 
encounter at Walthall. It was after darkness had 
overspread the earth, that the force got back within 
the lines, leaving our dead where they were slain. 
General Butler, having determined upon the de- 



14 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

struction of the railroad between Richrnond and 
Petersburg, directed General Brooks to move in that 
direction for that purpose, while our brigade cooper- 
ated by making a feint on Port Walthall Junction. 
We moved forward at an early hour on the morning 
of the 7th, and speedily occupied the battle-ground 
of the day previous. Here we found the bodies of 
several of our fallen soldiers in a state of nudity, and 
horribly mutilated. They were interred in the open 
field. Although we reached the spot at an early 
hour — ^just as the sun was rising — we found indubita- 
ble evidences of the enemy's proximity. My com- 
pany, acting as a support to Company I, Captain 
Samuel Hufty, deployed across the open field in 
which the battle of the previous day had been 
fought. The enemy, who were in plain sight, made 
a corresponding move. As we advanced, so did 
they. Finally, we reached the spot designated, and 
halted. The Johnnies did likewise. For an hour 
and more we stood, like lions at bay, glaring at each 
other, but during all this time not a shot was fired 
by either party. We could see the heads of the 
enemy bobbing up and down behind the breast- 
works three or four hundred yards in rear of their 
skirmish line, and we wondered when they would 
" open the ball." Directly, we see a battery of light 
field pieces unlimber at the edge of a wood on our 
left, when we begin to realize that the dreadful 
monotony is at last to be broken. Belger's Rhode 
Island battery, which had always shared the glories 
and dangers of our brigade, and which had, up to 



UP THE JAMES RIVER. 1 5 

this moment, been covered by a hill near Dr. Wal- 
thall's mansion, was now run up, and unlimbered, 
and in less time than it takes me to write it, Belger 
had commenced the engagement, which proved to 
be one of the prettiest I ever witnessed. The Con- 
federates promptly replied, and in a moment the air 
was heavy laden with hissing, shrieking and bursting 
shells. The explosion of a caisson, belonging to the 
enemy, caused them a deal of trouble, and the loss 
of a number of men. During this duel between the 
two batteries, we lay in the open field — part of the 
time conversing with the Johnnies on the skirmish 
line. I must confess that the conversation was not 
particularly edifying. The Confederates had no 
sooner hauled off their battery, than we saw a move- 
ment on the part of their infantry. We knew they 
outnumbered us at this point, and some of us began 
to feel uneasy. At this moment, however, when so 
full of anxiety, we hear heavy firing away on our 
right front, and directly after see a double line of 
blue coats moving hurriedly across an open field, 
directly in the right rear of the force which had all 
day been confronting us. We can restrain ourselves 
no longer, and break out with hearty cheers which 
cause the enemy's skirmishers to turn all sorts of 
colors, and roll their tobacco quids nervously in 
their mouths. Brooks has gained the enemy's rear, 
and is now tearing up the railroad, and severing 
telegraphic communication between the rebel capi- 
tal and the south. The strength of his column ena- 
bles him to act with almost perfect impunity, 



1 6 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

although he is kept quite busy with a foe who ig 
vigilant on all sides. The '' object of the expedi- 
tion having been accomplished," the forces returned 
to camp, well satisfied with their day's work. 

Next day, the 8th, many of us bathed in the 
dark waters of the Appomattox, notwithstanding 
the close proximity of the Johnnies, who fired upon 
us as opportunity offered. 

The army was put in motion at three o'clock 
next morning, 9th, but the enemy was not encoun- 
tered in force until we reached Swift Creek, about 
three miles from Petersburg. The battle was opened 
without delay, the fighting being severe during the 
entire day and night. It was here that the 25th 
and 27th South Carolina Regiments were opposed 
in hostile array to the 25th and 27th Massachusetts 
Regiments of our brigade. The Palmetto regiments 
made repeated charges on their brethren from the 
Bay State, and were as often driven back with 
frightful loss. The Confederates were here in strong 
force, most of them having just come from South 
Carolina, with Beauregard, who now was skillfully 
directing the enemy's movements. 

Next morning, loth, the enemy feeling very bit- 
ter, vigorously renewed the battle, both armies hav- 
ing slept upon their arms during the night. In making 
an examination of the battle-ground, we found in 
one spot, the bodies of a captain, two lieutenants, or- 
derly sergeant, a corporal and a number of privates, 
belonging to one company in the 27th South Caro- 
lina, which proved, if such a thing be necessary, the 



UP THE JAMES RIVER. 1 7 

desperate -character and staying qualities of the 
enemy, and the fierceness of yesterday's conflict. 
We were glad to. leave the ensanguined field, reach- 
ing our camp late in the afternoon. 

nth — Everything within sound is quiet to-day, 
for which we are devoutly thankful. But what will 
the morrow bring forth ? 

Daybreak on the 12th, found us on the march 
again — this time our point of direction being to the 
right, inclining toward the James river. It soon 
leaked out that we were on the way to Drewry's 
Bluff or Fort Darling — an impregnable place on the 
river — seven miles from Richmond. On the way up 
the turnpike, we *' gobbled " several cavalrymen, 
bearers of dispatches to General Beauregard. Dur- 
ing the afternoon, Generals Heckman, Brooks and 
Wistar engaged the enemy near the turnpike — driv- 
ing him from a number of positions, which successes 
served to cheer and nerve us for whatever might be 
in store for us. 

We fought hard all day on the 13th, pressing the 
enemy steadily back. Towards the close of the 
afternoon, while " resting," we heard all sorts of 
rumors — not one of which, as I afterwards learned, 
had any foundation in fact, although they served 
their purpose well. We received orders to make 
coffee, which we greatly needed, and were about to 
enjoy its fine aroma, when our Adjutant, Carroll, di- 
rected me to take Companies D and G, deploy them 
and move forward in the woods in our front. I 
disliked very much to leave my coffee, and started 



l8 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

away with a quart cup in one hand, and a sword in 
the other. Just before entering the woods I was 
halted, and while a Western regiment, armed with 
sixteen-shooters, blazed away in my immediate 
front, I sipped my coffee, and it was well I did so, 
for directly afterwards, while climbing a fence, I 
missed my footing, and went over in a hurry, coffee 
and all — my men laughing heartily at my misad- 
venture. The rain now fell in torrents, and we 
speedily became drenched, our situation being very 
disagreeable. It was impossible to see anything, 
owing to the darkness in those dreary woods, and 
how I ever managed to keep my men together, is 
more than I am able to explain. I was thankful 
that the enemy did not molest us in the early part 
of the night, for we could not have made any de- 
fence — besides, we were just as likely to shoot one 
another as the rebels. I was told the next day 
by a prisoner whom we captured, that the only 
reason we were not attacked, was because the rebels 
believed us to be armed with sixteen-shooting rifles. 
Of course I slept none that night, such a thing was 
utterly impossible — besides, we were supposed to 
be a breastwork for the entire army, our duty being 
to "■ cover" it. 

At a late hour word reached me that Captain 
Samuel Hufty, with a picked force, was about to 
make a reconnoissance on my right. I had consid- 
erable difficulty in finding my men to notify and 
caution them of the movement, owing to the intense 
darkness. Captain Hufty penetrated the enemy's 



UP THE JAMES RIVER. 1 9 

lines and gained valuable information without firing 
a shot, and without losing a man. 

The field '' officer of the day," belonging to a 
Massachusetts regiment, failed to put in an appear- 
ance that night, and next morning, when Adjutant- 
General Abel came in to order my command " for- 
ward," he was surprised to learn that the one who 
had been charged with the duty of inspecting the 
line, had been remiss in his duty. I will merely 
add in this connection that this officer was subse- 
quently dismissed from the service which he had 
disgraced. 

I had proceeded but a short distance on the 
morning of the 14th, when I saw through an open- 
ing in the woods, strong fortifications, surmounted 
by the flag of the " stars and bars." I halted my 
command and apprised General Heckman, who was 
coming up in the rear with his brigade, of my dis- 
covery. We made a reconnoissance of the enemy's 
position, and while thus engaged, were fired upon 
by his sharpshooters. The general made prompt 
dispositions, and ordered me to advance. The rain 
continued, which materially interfered with the 
movements of the infantry, as well as the artillery. 
When the brigade had gained the position coveted, 
I was ordered to charge the enemy, who were snugly 
posted in the abattis. This movement was executed 
with a dash that surprised the Johnnies, who quickly 
crawled out from behind their logs, and hastily fled — 
springing in all haste over the formidable earthworks 
which were the crowning glory of the fort to which 



20 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

they were but auxiliary — yet a necessary defence. 
We followed to within a few yards of the fortifica- 
tions — then, under cover of the abattis, which the 
enemy had just deserted, we '' popped " away, when- 
ever we saw anything worth " popping " at. 

The Confederates replied to the fire of my skir- 
mishers as opportunity offered, but their temerity 
in showing their heads or arms above the breast- 
works was fearfully punished — my men being able 
to take deliberate aim — shots seldom being wasted. 
My first sergeant, Hulsart, solicitous concerning my 
safety, insisted upon the removal of my shoulder 
straps. He also protested against my wearing a 
gold cord on a fine regulation hat, presented to me 
a few days previously by Lieut. Colonel James 
Stewart, jr. The sergeant would listen to no re- 
fusal, insisting that the '' ornaments " were drawing 
the enemy's fire. It was amusing to watch the 
Johnnies in their efforts to discharge two or three 
light field pieces whose muzzles pointed in a threat- 
ening manner directly towards the orderly and my- 
self. The reader may rest assured we kept a sharp 
eye on those guns — neither of which were fired until 
we fell back at two o'clock in the afternoon, when 
we were relieved by two other companies, E and K. 
Just as the sun went down, my command was sent 
in again, remaining an hour or so, when we made 
our way out of the abattis to the ravine where the 
regiment lay. During the night we rested but ht- 
tie, owing to the heavy firing of the skirmishers. 



THE BATTLE AND THE CAPTURE. 2 1 

CHAPTER III. 

THE BATTLE AND THE CAPTURE. 

SUNDAY morn we received a mail from Jersey, — 
letters from my father being directed to me at 
*' Richmond, Va., or — elsewhere." The colonel 
jocosely remarked that the letters had reached me 
one day too soon, for we all believed that we would 
be in the rebel capital on the morrow. We passed 
the day in cleaning our rifles, instead of listening to 
the chaplain, or worse still, hearing the articles of 
war read, and assisted in throwing up a breastwork, 
which later in the day we left for the benefit of 
others. There was nothing in the surroundings to 
remind us that the day was the Lord's. We did not 
even have the customary inspection. Just at dusk, 
when the breastwork was about completed, we 
marched silently to the right, in the direction of the 
James river. We felt pleased to think that our ar- 
duous labors had been appreciated, and that we were 
at length to go where we could obtain sleep and 
needed rest. But alas, for human calculations, espe- 
cially when made by soldiers. Instead of turning to 
the rear, we suddenly found that the movement just 
executed was simply a prolongation of the battle 
line. Between the right of our regiment and the 
James river, was an intervening space, which was 
immediately occupied by several regiments of colored 
cavalry. During the long night which followed, we 
busied ourselves in stretching wires upon the ground 



22 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

in our front, and in collecting branches of trees, 
stumps, etc., which, placed in a line, served admira- 
bly for protection. Of course we felt that we had 
not been fairly treated, for had we not fought almost 
continuously for a week, besides working on en- 
trenchments which we should have been allowed to 
defend ? The Confederates, evidently suspecting a 
battle on the morrow, kept up an incessant fire 
from their small arms, as much to keep us from 
sleeping, as to prevent any movement on our part. 
To add to the horrors of this never-to-be-forgotten 
night, the rebs yelled all along the line. The yell 
of a Comanche is child-like in comparison. To vary 
the monotony, they made occasional attempts to 
charge, but our skirmish line was sufficient to hold 
the Confederates in check — that is, for the time 
being. 

Just before daybreak on the memorable morning 
of the i6th, a dense fog enveloped the earth. I 
never before had seen such a fog — not even in Vir- 
ginia. It was impossible to see fifteen feet in any 
direction. I could not see the entire front of 
my company, so heavy and pall-like was the mist. 
Down behind the frail breastwork of logs, we anx- 
iously awaited the approach of the infuriated enemy, 
who we knew had made every arrangement to come 
out from his works for the purpose of attack. Sat- 
isfied that the Confederates had received large re- 
enforcements, and that his brigade was in a posi- 
tion of extreme peril. General Heckman begged for 
assistance, — at least that the gallant Belger and his 



THE BATTLE AND THE CAPTURE, 23 

battery might be sent to his relief, but for some 
reason never explained, " Baldy " Smith, in com- 
mand of our division, failed to comply, leaving our 
brigade, which had become decimated, to withstand 
the shock of the rebel army under General Ransom, 
of North Carolina. I have heard a great many sol- 
diers express the opinion that Smith wanted Butler 
defeated, so that he could supersede him in the com- 
mand, hence his action in withholding the assist- 
ance so importunately asked for. I do not know 
why we were allowed no artillery, although a dozen 
superb batteries were idle in our rear, and no one 
can convince me that treachery did not underlie the 
action of some officers, high in rank though they 
were. 

It was about a quarter before five o'clock in the 
morning, when four brigades of the enemy, in line 
of battle, emerged from their works, and moved 
noiselessly across an open field. Our skirmishers, 
seeing the futility of attempting to check such a 
force, crawled out of their " gopher " holes, and dis- 
charging their rifles as rapidly as possible, retreated 
upon our line, which they had hardly gained, when 
the battle of Drewry's Bluff had been opened in 
dreadful earnest. The Confederate artillery made 
the earth tremble, while the shriek of the shell mul- 
tiplied the horrors of the contest. On, on, came the 
sanguine Confederates, until they reached the wires 
which befouled them. Our opportunity came at 
last, and we embraced it with all the zeal of which 
we were capable. A constant sheet of flame from 



24 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

the brazen muzzles of our trusted rifles, proved to 
the enemy that the Yankee was still there, with no 
thought of surrendering the advantages gained by 
the previous ten days' fighting. The fog still re- 
mained, and to its kindly shelter the enemy owed a 
great deal. Charge after charge was made by the 
maddened enemy, who was as often driven back to 
the field where his shattered lines would be reformed. 
During the lulls, we heard the groans of the dying, 
some of whom uttered bitter imprecations. 

It was, perhaps, eight o'clock when I imagined 
that all was not as it should be. I heard heavy fir- 
ing in my rear, but could not account for it, nor for 
the solitude in my immediate proximity. I could 
not see more than a few yards away, owing to the 
fog which hung like drapery over the landscape. I 
peered to my right and to my left, but could see no 
troops anywhere, not even in front. While in 
a state of wonderment, I was surprised by an excla- 
mation of Sergeant Tom Hazleton. Turning quickly 
I saw a number of Confederates springing over our 
logs. Having no desire to cultivate their acquain- 
tance, I picked up my sword, (I had been using a 
rifle), and patent-leather haversack, and calling upon 
my men to " retreat," started on a run for the rear. 
We got along finely ; no one interfered with us, but 
I confess the further I went, the more I was con- 
fused. A short distance to the right of a road upon 
which I was hastening along, I saw a battery, the 
pieces unlimbered and pointing in the direction I 
This seemed strange, but I could not 



THE BATTLE AND THE CAPTURE. 



25 



bring my mind to realize that that battery belonged 
to the enemy. I continued on, walking slowly, 
meditating on the singular turn affairs had taken, 
when I was suddenly halted by a ragged looking 
fellow. I thought he was a "bummer" on a 
thieving expedition, so I bade him get out of 
my way. He put a revolver to my head, and told 
me to " surrender." At this moment, for the first 
time that morning, the sun put in an appearance, 
speedily dissolving the fog. I was bewildered when 
asked to surrender, but now, on looking about, I 
found myself surrounded by rebels, and directly in 
rear of their battle-line. I lost no time in present- 
ing Lieutenant Sherwood, of the 31st Alabama regi- 
ment, with my sword, belt, revolver and haversack. 
It must not be understood that I insisted upon his 
accepting the latter article, but it was all the same 
to the Lieutenant, who placed his services at my dis- 
posal for the purpose of showing me about, more 
particularly to conduct me to the rear, where he as- 
sured me it would be much safer, especially as the 
battle was about to be renewed. 

On the way to Fort Darling, the Lieutenant 
chatted pleasantly with a view of getting my Na- 
poleon boots, which he was anxious to obtain, be- 
cause, he said, they were handsomer than the boots 
worn by "Archie Gracie," the commander of his 
brigade. I thought I had been liberal enough to the 
Lieutenant, especially upon so short an acquaintance, 
and I made up my mind to resist his overtures for 
the boots, which I determined to stick to as long as 



26 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

they lasted. On the way to the fort we passed over 
what had but recently been the battle-ground. 
Along a stream I saw hundreds of poor fellows 
washing in and drinking the now blood-stained 
water. I was very thirsty, but my stomach revolted 
at the thought of quenching thirst in that brook, 
so I passed along — several of the wounded Confed- 
erates anathematizing me. I pitied the unfortunate 
soldiers who would doubtless soon be free from all 
pain. I had never before seen so many sufferers in 
so limited a space — the ground everywhere was 
dotted with the dead and dying. The spectacle 
was heart-sickening, and its incidents will never be 
blotted from my remembrance. 

Reaching Fort Darling, an impregnable position 
on the water front at Drewry's Bluff, myself and 
comrades (second Lieutenant George Peters being 
among the number), were transferred to the custody 
of a provost-marshal, who was quite willing to 
allow us to go "• on to Richmond " when he had 
satisfied himself that we had no articles of value 
about our persons. His search not being rewarded 
with success, he sent us down the one hundred and 
fifty steps to the wharf, and in a few minutes, in an- 
swer to a signal, a steamboat came up, which, we 
were politely informed, would convey us to Rich- 
mond, a city, he remarked, we were doubtless anx- 
ious to visit. 



ON THE WA Y TO LIBB Y PRISON. 2/ 

CHAPTER IV. 

ON THE WAY TO LIBBY PRISON, 

MY heart almost ceased its pulsations as I 
stepped on board the vessel, over whose 
deck lazily floated the Confederate flag. It was not 
till this moment that I realized my condition — the 
horrors of the rebel prison-pens suddenly burst upon 
me, making me wretched indeed. The terrible 
scenes through which I had so recently passed, 
seemed like a dream, and I could not believe in 
their reality. While contemplating the loneliness of 
my situation, and wondering how our regiment 
could have moved away without my knowledge, I 
was suddenly startled. Seated on a bench, near 
the wheel-house of the steamer, sat an officer whose 
form was familiar to me. I watched him closely. 
His head was bowed, resting upon his hands, which 
prevented me from obtaining a clear view of his fea- 
tures. The sudden explosion of a torpedo in the 
river, by a passing vessel, caused him to change his 
position, when I discovered his identity. He proved 
to be my brave and intrepid commander, General 
Heckman. He extended his hand, grasping mine 
with much warmth, and congratulated me upon my 
safety. He had been captured quite early in the 
engagement by General Archibald Gracie, who com- 
manded an Alabama brigade. Gracie formerly 
lived in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and when the rebel- 



28 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

lion broke out, for expressing disloyal sentiments, 
he was invited to leave the place, which he had good 
sense enough to do, thus saving the Unionists of 
that city the trouble of procuring him a novel ap- 
parel — tar and feathers. 

General Heckman said the Ninth had stood its 
ground until it was swept away by an irresistible 
line, when it slowly moved to the rear, firing in two 
different directions. It was while riding to where 
he knew me to be posted, that he was captured. 
His staff officers had been placed hors de combat 
soon after the battle opened, leaving him alone. 
He had heard that Colonel Abram Zabriskie, and 
Captains Edwin Stevens Harris, Edward S. Carrell 
and J. B. Lawrence had been killed, Lieut. Col. 
James Stewart, jr., and other officers wounded, and 
he feared that the Ninth had suffered terribly in the 
loss of other brave men. 

The sail up the river was almost devoid of inter- 
est to us, although we noticed that the stream was 
filled with gun-boats, torpedoes and other submarine 
appliances of modern warfare. Almost before we 
were aware of it, the boat drew up and was made 
fast to the wharf at " Rockett's." Here we found a 
motley crowd, who manifested unmistakable delight 
on seeing the " Yankee general " walk ashore. The 
mob hooted and howled, and for a moment I was 
afraid that some of the cowardly wretches would 
strike the general, but these brave citizens of Rich- 
mond contented themselves with showing their 
courage and following us at a respectful distance, 



LIB BY PRISON REACHED. 29 

until we were halted in front of a large three story- 
brick building, over the door of which hung a small 
weather-stained sign, bearing the ominous words : 
** Libby and Son, Ship Chandlers and Grocers." 

It was not necessary for any one to tell us that 
this was the Confederacy's loathsome prison-house, 
which I could not look upon without shuddering. 
Entering and turning into a small room on the first 
floor, we were invited to " register," after which Dick 
Turner, a deep-dyed villain, escorted us to another 
apartment, where we were peremptorily bidden to 
bring forth and deliver to him any articles of value 
which we might happen to have about our persons. 
The general protested against this larceny, but 
Turner carried his point, by suddenly thrusting a 
huge revolver at his face, which had the desired 
effect, and the general handed over some one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars in lawful money of the United 
States. Lieutenant Peters was the possessor of 
some forty dollars, which he had by some means 
managed to keep from his captors on the battle- 
field. It made me smile to see him transfer his 
treasure to the biggest thief in Richmond, especially 
as he insisted on having the amount carefully 
counted and placed to his credit. Turner told the 
Lieutenant that he could *'draw a certain amount 
each week," which he knew to be a base lie when 
he uttered it. Turner, after placing our valuables 
in his desk, inquired whether, on our honor as offi- 
cers and gentlemen, we had given up everything 
in our possession. I believe most of us bowed as- 



30 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

sent, but this did not satisfy the leech, who gave a 
signal, whereupon in walked a squad of lank-looking 
soldiers (?) who, from their appearance, had not had 
a square meal since the war began. They under- 
stood the nature of their errand. We were com- 
pelled to disrobe, each article of our apparel being 
carefully examined. Lieut. Col. Bartholomew, of 
the 27th Massachusetts regiment, had retained a 
pair of field glasses. He begged hard to be allowed 
to keep these, but the inhuman keeper was inexora- 
ble. He refused the request, although the colonel 
informed him that the glasses had been presented 
to him by a lady friend, who had but recently de- 
parted this life. Donning our apparel we were pi- 
loted to the second story of the building, where we 
were left to our sorrowful meditations. I had kept 
a large and handsome seal ring (a gift from my wife), 
as well as a small pocket diary and some other arti- 
cles, and I congratulated myself upon having fooled 
the Johnnies, who were not always as smart as they 
imagined. 



CHAPTER V. 

HARD LINES. 



DURING our stay in " Libby," we suffered 
many indignities, which galled us more than 
the privations to which w'e were systematically sub- 
jected. Turner, and his ready tools, embraced every 



HARD LINES. 33 

opportunity to annoy us, even directing the senti- 
nels in and around the building, to cry out the hour 
during the long nights, to prevent us from enjoy- 
ing sleep, which was the only consolation to be had. 
I think I can convey a better idea of how we were 
treated, by copying from my diary, in which I made 
the following entries, viz. : 

May 17th — Nothing to put in my mouth to-day, 
save two chews of poor tobacco, with an abundance 
of very dirty water supplied from a hydrant in the 
room, but for this I was thankful. 

1 8th — Made an attempt to obtain a portion of 
the money which we had deposited with Dick Tur- 
ner, in order to purchase some food, which we began 
to feel we could not very well get along without. I 
need hardly say that our petition was treated with 
scorn by our ** banker." At dusk he had the good- 
ness to send up a piece of dry corn-bread, which we 
divided equitably ; but this only served to increase, 
rather than appease our appetite. 

19th — We awoke long before the sun rose, be- 
cause it was impossible to sleep with hunger gnaw- 
ing our vitals. At a late hour in the morning 
several loaves of corn-bread were thrown into our 
room, which we devoured with avidity. At noon 
we received some corn-meal, with which we made 
mush — a palatable article. For the evening repast 
we had — well, we had nothing, not so palatable. 

20th — Mush and corn-bread for breakfast, mush 
and rotten black beans for dinner, with corn-bread 
for supper. About noon to-day, the Rev. Mr. Wil- 



34 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

mer, of Richmond, entered the east room, and after 
learnino; that General Heckman was from New Jer- 
sey, handed him a valuable gold watch, which some 
Confederate soldier had stolen from Lieutenant 
Baldwin, of a New Jersey regiment. The general 
took the watch, and directed me to give the min- 
ister a receipt for the same, which I did, but neither 
of us held any conversation with the conscience- 
stricken clergyman. On reaching the pen at Ma- 
con, General Heckman found the owner of the 
watch, and returned it to him, being heartily thanked 
therefor. 

2 1 St — Mush for breakfast, rotten black beans for 
dinner — a small piece of corn-bread for dessert. 
Boiled rice for supper. Great excitement in the 
city — bells rung, citizens called out, etc. Rumored 
that Lee has been terribly defeated, and that Gen. 
Grant is marching on the city. 

22d — Mush for breakfast, beans and worms for 
dinner, bread for supper. 

23d — Mush for breakfast, fried mush for dinner — 
beans for dessert. Sour bread for supper. Received 
ten pounds of bacon and maggots — too rotten and 
filthy excepting for cooking purposes. We used it 
up in frying mush. 

24th — Sour cakes and corn coffee (!) for breakfast, 
beans for dinner, boiled rice for supper. 

25th — " Intelligent contraband " informed us that 
Grant had defeated Lee, and was within eight miles 
of Richmond. Fried mush for breakfast, bread and 
beans for dinner, and for supper we had mush I 



AN EXCURSION DIXIEWARD. 35 

26th — NotJiing for breakfast — (quite a change !) 
Small piece of corn-bread for dinner — boiled rice for 
supper. Lieut. Peters paid one dollar for a loaf of 
bread (about as large as one of Branin's doughnuts), 
two dollars for a common lead pencil, and two dol- 
lars for having the errand performed, in Confederate 
money. 

27th — Mush for breakfast — fried bread for dinner, 
and for supper on this particular occasion we con- 
cluded to have boiled rice. 

28th — For breakfast, fried mush ; for dinner, fried 
bread ; and for supper, mush fried. Six or seven 
pounds of very filthy bacon issued to sixty-two 
of us. 

29th — Boiled rice for breakfast, fried bread for 
dinner, and for supper boiled rice. " Rebs " busily 
engaged all day in hauling locomotives and cars 
through the streets, from the York River R. R. 

30th — Rice boiled for breakfast, bread fried for 
dinner, and boiled rice for supper. 



CHAPTER VI. 

AN EXCURSION DIXIEWARD. 

31st — Long before daybreak we heard heavy and 
continued firing in a northeasterly direction, and 
soon after noticed unusual activity among citizens 
and soldiers on Carey street. A liberal supply of 
bread was sent up to us, immediately after which 



36 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

we were ordered to " fall in." In less than two min- 
utes thereafter, we were marching through the 
street, surrounded by armed guards. At Castle 
Thunder several hundred of our poor enlisted men 
joined us — then we were hurried across the Mayo 
bridge to Manchester, where a train of filthy cattle 
cars stood in waiting. Some sixty prisoners were 
crowded into each car. These cars were exceed- 
ingly nasty, cattle having just been discharged from 
them. Our guardians not only refused to clean 
the cars, but declined to allow us to do it. The in- 
tensely hot weather added to our discomfort, and 
increased the stench beyond the power of words to 
express. After a delay of some two hours, the train 
was started, making slow progress, however. Dur- 
ing the night, several of our men, who descended to 
the ground to get a breath of fresh air, whenever the 
train stopped, were shot. 

We crossed the river Dan just as the sun rose, 
on the first day of June, and a few minutes later dis- 
embarked at Danville, where it became necessary to 
change cars. There was but little life here, not- 
withstanding the fact that there was a prison-pen, 
with a regiment on duty. The place was so far in 
the interior that its denizens had no fear of the '' in- 
vader." We reached Greensboro, North Carolina, 
about noon, over a new road, which even now was 
scarcely completed. We rested here until midnight, 
under beautiful shade trees, the people treating us 
kindly, although I cannot say that many opened 
their pocket books for our benefit. I had an oppor- 



FI^ISONERS INSULTED. 37 

tunity, while here, of talking to some of our enlisted 
men, whose harrowing stories of cruel treatment 
tortured my soul. Some of them had come from 
Belle Isle, where they had endured everything but 
death — that would have been a blessing to many. 
Although I had prepared a palatable dish for the 
general, he refused to partake of it, saying he had 
lost his appetite. I then regretted that he had been 
compelled to listen to the emaciated men with whom 
I had been in converse. During the evening I kept 
as close to the guard as was safe, watching for any 
chance that might present itself for escape. The 
sentinels crowded us closely together and showed us 
no favors. I thought that if I could once get away 
from the town, I would be able to reach the majes- 
tic Blue Ridge mountains, behind which were friends 
and safety; but the rebs were unusually vigilant, 
maintaining a double line of guards, which I finally 
believed could not be safely or successfully eluded. 
It was a tedious and disagreeable ride to Charlotte, 
ninety miles distant, which we reached at a late 
hour next day. 

When the train halted at Salisbury, several East 
Tennesseeans succeeded in making their escape, and 
when the fact was communicated to our keepers, 
their rage knew no bounds. A Pennsylvania officer 
got out of our car to talk with a citizen, whom he 
had known before the war, and while standing on 
the ground quietly conversing, one of the guards 
used grossly insulting language, for which he was 
called to account by Captain James Belger, the ar- 



38 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

tillerist. The cowardly wretch, not liking the inter- 
ference of the captain, attempted to thrust him with 
his bayonet, when the weapon was suddenly seized 
by Captain Belger, who, in another instant would 
have sent the desperado before his Maker, had not 
the officer in charge of the train interposed. Sev- 
eral of our enlisted men were killed at various sta- 
tions, for no other reason than that they were found 
on the ground. Just before we left this place, a 
Confederate officer came up and told our custodians 
to treat us kindly. He said he had been a prisoner 
at Camp Douglass, and that the Yankees had used 
him " like a man." This officer's kindness was the 
only redeeming feature of the trip, so far. 

We reached Columbia, South Carolina, just be- 
fore dusk, and were transferred to still poorer cars. 
The stench which greeted my olfactory nerves was 
so disagreeable that I begged permission of the 
lieutenant to occupy the top of a car. He accorded 
me the privilege, which I lost no time in embracing. 
I sprang up quite nimbly, glad to escape from the 
noisome place inside. The train finally got under 
way, and I was soon covered with cinders from the 
rickety and puffing locomotive. Notwithstanding 
these inconveniences, I congratulated myself upon 
the change which I had made. I had one unpleas- 
ant encounter while on the car, that was when one 
of the guards came running along over the " tops." 
He stopped when he saw me lying there, and on 
discovering my identity, let loose a volley of vile 
curses. The increasing darkness prevented me from 



A CONSIDER A TE KEEPER. 39 

seeing whether he was armed, and I was becoming 
quite nervous at his outrageous conduct, when the 
train dashed under a covered bridge. What became 
of my tormentor I never learned, but he disappeared 
at that particular moment, and as he did not again 
put in an appearance on the train, I consoled my- 
self with the belief that he must have been too badly 
injured by the fall to overtake it. He came in sud- 
den contact with one of my Napoleon boots, which 
caused him to lose his equilibrium and topple off 
the car. 

Augusta, Georgia, was reached about the middle 
of the forenoon ; the train wound its way slovvly 
through the city, stopping near a large open yard, 
formerly used for the storage of cotton. Thousands 
of people, of all shades and conditions, surrounded 
us as we debarked, and so great was the curiosity 
of the multitude, that the guards made a passage 
with great difficulty. We occupied the cotton-yard 
during our short sojourn in Augusta, the hotels be- 
ing insufficient to accommodate so large a party. I 
presume this to be the reason we were not sent to 
the hotels. I conversed with a number of the citi- 
zens, some of whom were well disposed towards us. 
A few even went so far as to express sorrow at our 
unfortunate condition. Captain Bradford, son of 
Governor Bradford of Maryland, provost marshal 
of the place, was very attentive to our wants, and 
did what in his power lay to ameliorate our condi- 
tion. He provided us with an abundance of edi- 
bles, among which were fresh crackers and excellent 



40 FAST ANT> LOOSE JN DIXIE, 

ham. A man (!) wearing the Confederate uniform, 
with a corporal's chevrons, ascertaining that I was 
from New Jersey, was very anxious to obtain in- 
formation about some of his friends in EHzabeth. 
Happening to be acquainted with several whose 
names he mentioned, I made myself as agreeable as 
possible, and endeavored to enlighten him. While 
talking to me, several Johnnies came up and saluted 
this redoubtable corporal, and this so pleased his 
excessive vanity, that every time he was thus 
greeted, he drew a huge roll of Confederate bills 
from his pocket, and presented the soldier with a V 
or an X, whichever came handiest. Finally, as he 
was about to depart, I stated my circumstances, 
and asked him to furnish me with a sheet of writing 
paper, an envelope, and a postage stamp, saying I 
was anxious to write to my family, as I had not 
been able to do so since my capture. This brave 
corporal straightened himself up, and deliberately 

told me that he would see me first, and he 

strutted haughtily away, without saying '' thank 
you" for the favor I had done him, at his request. 
The name of this fellow was John Clark, a native of 
Elizabeth, N. J., and a more despicable renegade I 
never met in the South. I ought to say that Clark 
was one of the first to meet and welcome General 
Sherman's troops when they appeared at Augusta, 
protesting in the most cowardly manner that he had 
always been a Unionist, and offering to prove it by 
appealing to his relatives in his native place. That's 
the kind of a man John Clark was. 



"FRESH FISH." 4 1 

We passed the night pleasantly enough, and felt 
much refreshed by uninterrupted sleep. During the 
forenoon, we were visited by many citizens, among 
whom was a goodly number of ladies, who were 
happy or unhappy, in finding friends and relatives 
in our wretched looking party. One lady presented 
a friend of mine with a Bible. Our stay here was 
extremely agreeable, and when we marched across 
the city in the afternoon, followed by an immense 
concourse of people, many of us felt as if we were 
leaving kind-hearted friends, whose generous deeds 
shall always have a place in my memory, 



CHAPTER VII. 

ARRIVAL IN THE CRACKER STATE. 

IT was a tedious ride to Macon, which we reached 
shortly after daylight on the 6th. The officers 
were bidden to leave the cars, and while we waited 
at the depot, the long train moved further south- 
ward with our enlisted men, destined, as I subse- 
quently ascertained, for Andersonville, beside which 
no other prison-pen was at all comparable for hor- 
rors. A short march brought us to '' Camp Ogle- 
thorpe," an enclosure formerly used for county fair 
purposes. Entering the yard, we were saluted with 
loud cries of " fresh fish," '' give them air," " keep 
your hands on your pocket-books," " louder, pud- 
ding head," etc., my first impulse being that we were 



42 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

in a market place, but this proved to be a delusion. 
Among the fifteen hundred officers of the army in 
this yard, I found many whom I knew. Our new 
home embraced some three acres of land, enclosed 
by a high board stockade, along the top of which 
paced sentinels closely posted. Cannon were 
mounted on platforms overlooking the yard, and 
they could be readily ranged to sweep the place, in 
the event of our keepers deeming such a proceeding 
necessary. A number of long sheds had been 
erected, but they were insufficient to accommodate 
or shelter all confined here. For more than two 
weeks after my arrival, I was unable to find any 
shelter from the tropical sun by day, and heavy, 
sickening dews by night, save that afforded by a 
tree on the hillside, which was quite near to the 
common sink. 

I entered this prison destitute of everything. I 
was without money, without a blanket, and without 
utensils of any kind in which to cook the coarse yel- 
low meal allotted me. Lieut. Joseph Donovan, of 
the 2d N. J. Vols., succeeded in obtaining a frying 
pan, which he kindly loaned me, and many times 
afterward during my captivity he showed me favors. 
** Gus " Conover, an engineer in the navy, who had 
known me in Trenton, where I resided when the war 
broke out, presented me with a twenty dollar green- 
back, which I expended in a frugal manner, buying 
vegetables calculated to keep me clear of the scurvy, 
a disease I much dreaded. 

Our keepers issued wood in limited quantities, 



NECESSITY KNO WS NO LA W. 43 

and one axe to each squad of two hundred. The 
axes we were compelled to return each day within 
a specified time, the '* Johnnies " being afraid we 
would attack them if allowed to retain such formida- 
ble weapons. Our chief staple of food here con- 
sisted of rice, beans and corn-meal, with the smallest 
possible quantity of bacon, which I never could 
stomach. Occasionally we received sorghum mo- 
lasses and vinegar. We were compelled to do our 
own washing and cooking, if such are proper names 
for operations performed under distressing circum- 
stances. Grumbling ! Of course there was grumb- 
ling, and plenty of it, for what was there in that ver- 
min-covered yard calculated to make us think more 
of the Confederates, or — ourselves? A rebel prison- 
pen was where human nature could be seen without 
any artificial appliance. Although each of the six- 
teen hundred officers confined in this place were 
supposed by the U. S. A. regulations to be " gentle- 
men," yet I am afraid many were only restrained 
from acts of pillage by the fear of summary punish- 
ment. No officer having a shirt or other article of 
apparel would wander away without keeping both 
eyes upon it. Necessity knows no law, especially 
among men thrown together and kept without 
proper food and without comfort, hence the care 
which we bestowed upon what articles still remained 
to us. I saw officers who had no shirts, others with- 
out unmentionables, while many were without a 
covering for their head or feet. 

After I had lain on the side of the hill for a couple 



44 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

of weeks exposed to all sorts of weather — the rebels 
having refused to supply any boards for the new- 
comers, Peters and I concluded to dig a hole under 
the " fair building," in which we would at least be 
shielded from the sun and rain. We were progress- 
ing finely with our work, when operations were in- 
terrupted by the rebel officer of the day, who threat- 
ened us with all sorts of punishment in case we did 
not cease our labors. We informed him that we 
could not find cover elsewhere, and begged him to 
allow us to finish our abode ; but our humble peti- 
tion was denied, the chivalrous son of the South 
moving away muttering all sorts of imprecations 
and threats. Next day, after he had been relieved, 
we renewed our labors, and completed the hole 
without further interruption, and greatly to our joy 
and satisfaction. The hole, however, did not an- 
swer my expectations, for it was damp and cold and 
cheerless, and the penalty exacted was chills and 
fever, which made my comrade doubly wretched. 
Happening to have a small quantity of quinine in 
my vest pocket, I administered a dose to Peters, 
which cured him, perhaps because I had not been 
particular as to the quantity prescribed. 

Quite a number of prisoners managed, from time 
to time, to procure money, which they used in pur- 
chasing necessaries. Some were visited by relatives, 
others by friends, who supplied them with funds, 
etc. Captain Seth B. Ryder, of the 5th New York 
Cavalry, one of the more fortunate ones, was fre- 
quently visited by an old uncle, publisher of a paper 



I 



ARRIVAL IN THE CRACKER STATE. 45 

in Milledgeville, Georgia, who took great pleasure in 
aiding him. These kindnesses were subsequently- 
well rewarded, for the old gentleman having lost his 
property at the end of the war, received assistance 
in the time of his need from his gallant nephew, 
which enabled him to pass the remainder of his 
days without discomfort. 

Greenbacks were readily exchanged for Confed- 
erate notes at from $6 to $15. The following is a 
list of the prices : salt, per bushel, $64 ; flour, per 
barrel, $300 ; bacon, per pound, $5 ; fresh beef, per 
pound, $1.50; beans, per quart, $i ; baking soda, 
per pound, $12 ; small loaves of white bread, each, 
$1.50; watermelons, $8 to $15 dollars each; black 
berries, per quart, $i to $2 ; four small potatoes $1 ; 
butter, per pound, $6 ; molasses, per quart, $6 to 
$15 ; four cigars for a dollar. Board could be ob- 
tained at hotels in Macon, for $35 per day — so the 
advertisements in the Telegraph announced. 

Games of cricket, base ball, gymnastics, sword 
exercise, etc., by those strong enough to engage in 
these pastimes, furnished useful diversions, and re- 
lieved many depressed prisoners from their terrible 
ennui. We were allowed to purchase newspapers in 
this camp, but seldom did our keepers deliver to us 
the letters and papers sent us regularly from home, 
a wrong which I can never teach my heart to for- 
give them. 

About the middle of June, fearing that an at- 
tempt would be made to overpower the guard, the 
rebel authorities took from our number the five 



46 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. ^ 

general and fifty field officers, and sent them away — 
to Charleston, as we afterwards learned. By doing 
this, our keepers felt that they would be depriving 
us of means to act harmoniously, and so prevent 
the ever-dreaded emeute. It is true that one or 
two of the general officers would have been use- 
ful to us when our plans were fully matured, but 
their absence was not allowed to interfere with a 
realization of our scheme to obtain liberty. The 
" Council of Ten," was what we called our organiza- 
tion, which had for its object not only our own lib- 
eration, but also the liberation of 40,000 helpless 
and starved prisoners at Andersonville — some forty 
miles away. Seven hundred officers, of whom I 
was one, became members of the organization, being 
bound together by solem.n oaths, a dozen in number, 
administered, as opportunity offered, in the little 
shed occupied by the commissary. Companies and 
battalions were formed, properly officered, and a 
complete code of signals agreed upon. The only 
mistake that was made, so far as I am aware, was 
the selection of a puffy West Point officer, as com- 
mander-in-chief, whose chief quality was incompe- 
tence. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

DIGGING FOR LIBERTY. 

MEANWHILE labor on several tunnels was un- 
remittingly carried on each night. No one, 
excepting those who have worked in a tunnel, can 



DIGGING FOR LIBERTY. 47 

have any conception of the immense and painful 
labors necessary to their construction. Of course 
secrecy was the first great point to be observed. 
We had not only to guard against surprises from the 
rebels, but also to keep a knowledge of our move- 
ments from many of our own officers, for there were 
Judases among our number. Digging tunnels, then, 
under such circumstances, was no holiday matter. 
The duty was attended with great hazard. An old 
blanket which I had picked up, I was compelled 
to part with. I cut out the holes and made bags of 
the remainder, which I used in carrying away the 
dirt from the underground passage. On receiving 
the bag from the shaft of the tunnel, I placed it 
under my arm, covering it as much as possible with 
my blouse, then walked about the yard, seeking the 
darkest spots, and scattering the dirt where it would 
do the most good. One tunnel which we succeeded 
in completing, was eighty feet in length, opening 
towards the railroad. 

Our main plan was, on issuing from the tunnels, 
for one party to overpower the camp-guard, posted 
in a shaded field on the southerly side of the yard, 
and seize the small arms and artillery ; another party 
was to hasten and occupy the arsenal in the city, 
while a third party was to rush to the round-house 
where a number of locomotives were kept, and after 
securing them, destroy the telegraph wires leading 
from the place. All this being accomplished, we were 
to embark on a train and proceed to Andersonville to 
secure the freedom of our brave boys, whom we knew 



48 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

to be sufYerIng grievous torments. Penned up like 
sheep, in an inclosure, partly swamp, without shade or 
shelter, in the sickliest region of the Gulf, their hor- 
rors were only comparable with those of the ** Middle 
Passage." Almost daily we received heart-rending 
accounts from the pestilential pen. A Catholic priest, 
who had been among our men there, gave us relia- 
ble information, saying his heart bled for them. He 
told us that our men were dying at the rate of from 
seventy to a hundred and fifty a day — dysentery and 
scurvy being the general complaints. The bodies 
were dragged from the horrid place by brutal men, 
and carted to burial in one great pit. A riot had 
occurred among the wretched men, resulting in the 
death of several. Many had become insane, while 
others, grown desperate, were utterly reckless of life. 
Almost every morning a body or two was found — 
the result of a feud or suicide. Murders finally be- 
came of such frequent occurrence that the better 
class of the prisoners formed themselves into a 
*■' Vigilance Committee," to prevent, if possible, rob- 
bery and murder. It was ascertained at length that 
a gang of some two hundred reckless characters had 
perpetrated a series of murders — the object being 
plunder. The victims were, in most cases, newly 
arrived prisoners. If the gang met with resistance^ 
in pursuing their desperate calling, they murdered 
the poor unfortunate on the spot — either club- 
bing him to death or by strangulation — a quiet 
though certain means of accomplishing the object. 
The committee having obtained sufficient evi- 



SIX ROUGHS EXECUTED. 49 

dence, waited upon the rebel commandant and asked 
his assistance in bringing the guilty parties to pun- 
ishment. To his credit, be it said, he listened at- 
tentively to the report of the committee, and fur- 
nished a guard which promptly entered the pen 
where a large number of those implicated were ar- 
rested and taken outside the stockade. A judge 
and jury were selected from among the prisoners, 
and the trial was at once proceeded with — resulting 
in the conviction of six of the murderers, who had 
acted as ringleaders. The evidence was positive in 
each case. The condemned were given twenty-four 
hours in which to prepare for death, at the end 
of which time they were hung, expiating their guilt 
upon a rudely constructed scaffold. It is, perhaps, 
needless to say that no more robberies or murders 
were committed after this summary proceeding. 

Sherman having reached Atlanta just as we had 
completed the tunnels, it was felt that the time for 
action had arrived. The time was agreed upon, and 
we anxiously awaited the moment of action. I 
almost felt the free, untainted air, and yet, while' 
revelling in the imaginative sweets of liberty and 
freedom, my hopes were foully crushed. At nine 
o'clock one morning the customary guards entered 
the enclosure, and deploying across the same, drove 
us to one side — sixteen hundred of us in a compact 
mass. We noticed there was some delay in counting 
the prisoners, which we supposed was the object of 
their presence, and as the sun, under whose rays we 
stood, was intensely hot, our situation was anything 



$0 FAS 7' AND LOOSE I/V DIXIE. 

but pleasant. We noticed that the rebel officers, 
standing in a group near the gate, acted nervously, 
but it was impossible to fathom their intentions. It 
is only when they move towards one of the sheds 
that the knowing ones divine the object. When they 
demolish a board bunk, and commence removing the 
bags of dirt from the shaft, we feel that every hope 
has fled — that we had worked in vain. The rebel 
officers proceeded direct to each of the other tun- 
nels, which proved that we had been foully betrayed 
— the villain being a lieutenant of an Illinois cavalry 
regiment, who, on discovery, was compelled to place 
his cowardly carcass under the protection of the 
prison authorities — and it was well he did so, for no 
earthly power could have saved his precious skin 
had he fallen into the hands of the infuriated mana- 
gers of the underground railway. Thus ended the 
tunnelling project in Macon. A few more hours and 
one of the most brilliant dashes of the war would 
have been made — the results of which would have 
won the admiration of our enemies and the thanks 
of the army and the people of the North. 

One evening. Lieutenant Gershon, a New Yorker, 
was on his way to the spring to procure a cup of 
water for a sick comrade. The lieutenant was 
halted by the guard, who stood upon the stockade, 
but whether he failed to hear the challenge, or sup- 
posed the sentinel was speaking to some one else, 
no one knew. At all events the sentinel shot him 
dead. In an instant the camp was in a state of 
commotion. A number of officers ran towards the 



THE NA TAL DA Y CELEBRA TED. 5 I 

Spot, but were warned away — the guards shouting 
themselves hoarse in their attempts to keep them 
back. Fearing a general massacre, our officers slowly 
" fell back " to their quarters, and it was an hour 
and more after this before the body of the slain 
officer was recovered and taken into the main build- 
ing, where it was prepared for interment. Richard 
Barrett, the murderer, was next morning promoted 
to a corporal, and given the customary furlough for 
** killing a Yankee." 

The Macon papers, printed at times on coarse 
brown paper, were very amusing, even though high- 
priced — fifty-cents being the sum asked for a single 
copy. During July they kept up the spirits of their 
readers by publishing the silliest reports of '* Con- 
federate successes." In one column they acknowl- 
edged the every-day defeat of General Joe Johnston, 
but made up for this by saying in another place that 
Early was " shelling Washington," had captured 
Baltimore, and was marching upon Philadelphia. I 
read in the Telegraph, after this, that Early had cap- 
tured Bangor, Maine. A people that required news 
of this character to keep them up to the ** fighting 
pitch " were deserving of pity. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE NATAL DAY CELEBRATED. 

THE Fourth of July was duly celebrated by the 
prisoners, the enthusiasm being raised while 
the officers were being counted. Captain Harry H. 



52 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

Todd, 8th New Jersey Volunteers, was the happy- 
possessor of a miniature silk American flag, which 
Miss Paradise, of Jersey City, had given him when 
leaving for the army. The captain carried this flag 
in his pocket-book. Its display on the morning of 
the Fourth incited the heartiest cheering, leading to 
the rendition of the "■ Star Spangled Banner," by 
Adjutant Lombard, of Illinois, the chorus being joined 
in by the entire throng. The rebels, on hearing the 
cheering, strengthened the line of sentinels and 
manned the field pieces on the stockade. Roll-call 
being concluded, we repaired to the fair building, 
where a meeting was formally organized, Chaplain 
Nixon, of the i6th Connecticut Volunteers, offering 
a fervent and decidedly patriotic prayer. Orations 
were delivered by a number of officers, whose names 
I do not remember. The exercises, which were of 
a most interesting character, were continued until 
broken up by the rebel officer of the day, who en- 
tered the building, forcing himself to the speakers, 
followed by a company armed to the teeth. 

After the meeting, which was of the most enjoy- 
able character, Peters and myself set to work and 
made a blackberry pudding. We spent the last 
cent of Conover's twenty-dollar greenback in pur- 
chasing the berries, flour, etc. ; and when the dough 
had been prepared and everything was in readiness 
for cooking, we discovered that we had nothing in 
which to boil it. We knew not what to do, or which 
way to turn. It was absolutely necessary to have a 
bag of some sort, but where could such a thinp be 



AN 2MPR0 VISED P UDDING BAG. 53 

had ? Those who had such articles doubtless had 
them in use. After fruitless efforts to borrow some- 
thing which would answer our purpose, we hit upon 
the happy expedient of extemporizing the article 
we so much needed from one of my woolen stock- 
ings, knit for me by my dear old grandmother 
after she had attained the age of fourscore years. 
I prized the stockings on this account. Running 
down to the brook in the lower part of the yard, I 
washed the one which seemed best adapted to hold 
the dough, and hastened back to my expectant 
comrade, whose bronzed face reflected great joy 
when he saw how clean I had made the stocking. 
Neither of us, however, gave it a critical examina- 
tion, as that was altogether unnecessary, the urgency 
of the case not allowing us to indulge in fastidious 
ceremonies. We lost no time in stuffing the dough 
into the capacious stocking leg, and soon had the 
satisfaction of seeing the water boiling around it like 
a geyser spring. We at length removed the kettle 
from the fire, fished the precious stocking from the 
water, and ''squeezed" the pudding out upon a 
board ; then with mouths which watered at the 
tempting sight, enjoyed the fruits of our labors. I 
never had a dinner which I enjoyed more heartily, 
although I have an idea that the pudding would 
have been more palatable had not the berries sunk 
down to one corner of the dough, and had we had 
some sweeter sauce than that made of vinegar. 



54 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 



CHAPTER X. 

ANOTHER EXCURSION. 

THE news which we received from Sherman's 
army grew more and more encouraging to us, 
and correspondingly depressing to the rebels. From 
what we could overhear, when the sentinels con- 
versed loud enough for us to distinguish what they 
said, we became satisfied that our early removal to 
another place had been decided upon. Accordingly, 
on the 27th of July, six hundred officers were sent 
off to Charleston, and two days later, six hundred 
others were transported to Savannah. Our keepers 
could not deceive us, for on every hand we saw evi- 
dences of Sherman's triumphant march into the 
heart of the Confederacy, heretofore exempt from 
the horrors of war. Hundreds of freight cars along 
the railroad contained '* poor white trash," refugees 
from the upper part of Georgia. These people had 
been driven from their hitherto peaceful homes, 
and now they began to suffer some of the horrors 
which they had provoked. How they would be 
able to subsist was a mystery. 

The ride to Savannah occupied some twelve 
hours. The country was a wilderness, or nearly so. 
Only here and there did we see a house, or a farm 
which looked as if it could be made productive. 
On leaving the train at the depot in Savannah, we 
were surrounded by a company called the '* Blues,'* 



i 



BETTER TREATMENT. 57 

headed by a *' black" band, and were escorted to 
our new prison-home, which we found to be the olcT 
Marine Hospital grounds, property of the United 
States, luxuriously shaded by beautiful live-oak 
trees. The streets through which we marched were 
crowded with people anxious to get a " look at the 
Yankees." Many females displayed the flag of the 
stars and bars, and took great pride in attracting 
our attention thereto. Some even indulged in 
singing a ridiculous song called the *' Bonnie Blue 
Flag," which, to say the least, did not show very 
good taste on their part. 

I was fearful on leaving Macon that we might 
be taken to a worse place, if such could be found, 
but on entering the hospital grounds, my mind was 
happily set at rest on that score. Indeed, I con- 
gratulated myself on the change, when I found ample 
shade, green grass on which to sleep, and a well of 
good water, of a sulphurous taste — yet said to con- 
tain medicinal properties of a high order. I found 
the place, which was surrounded on all sides by a 
high brick wall, to be delightful, and I never slept 
more tranquilly. 

From the fact that no preparations had been 
made for our reception, we decided that the rebels 
must have been greatly alarmed when they sent us 
from Macon. The morning after our arrival at Sa- 
vannah a number of carpenters entered the yard 
and erected a " dead line," a necessary appendage 
to a camp for prisoners. This afforded us a chance 
to secure pieces of boards, which we used in con- 



58 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

structing bunks on which to sleep. During the day, 
one hundred clean tents were issued to us, also an 
abundance of cooking utensils, etc., and we were 
further surprised a few days after by receiving boards 
sufficient to stockade every tent in the yard. With 
all these things, together with plenty of corn-meal, 
rice, beans, salt, fresh beef, etc., we made ourselves 
quite comfortable. The commandant of the camp, 
Colonel Wayne, of the First Georgia Regulars, and 
his gentlemanly officers, did all in their power to 
ameliorate our condition, and none who were there 
will ever forget the many favors so generously shown. 
This camp was elysium itself. I attributed the gen- 
erosity of our new keepers to the fact that they had 
been to the *' front," knew what war was, and 
treated us accordingly. Had they been " home- 
guards," our condition would have been made as 
unpleasant as possible, for '' home-guards " must 
always do something to show their importance. 

The tents answered a double purpose, several of 
them serving to screen tunnelling operations, a work 
which some of us at once engaged in. Two tunnels 
were commenced at the same time — one from the 
large privy vault, the other from Captain Grant's 
tent. I worked actively on the latter. The soil being 
of a light, sandy nature, we were enabled to make 
astonishing progress, succeeding beyond our san- 
guine expectations. It was while disposing of dirt 
from the tunnel, one dark night, that I detected 
a comrade, Captain John Parker, First New Jersey 
Volunteers, engaged in a similar occupation. We 



BURROWING IN THE EARTH. 59 

seated ourselves under a huge live- oak tree and 
made an arrangement by which both parties should 
work in unison, and in the event of one tunnel being 
completed in advance of the other, the one thus 
finished should be used by all in common. As luck 
would have it, Parker's tunnel was first completed, 
and we were notified to get ready for flight. I lost 
no time in cooking what meal, etc., I had, and at 
about ten o'clock at night stood waiting in the 
vault, expecting momentarily to receive the signal 
to descend the shaft and enter the tunnel, the nar- 
row yet certain path, I fondly hoped, to freedom. 
Parker, Donovan, and several others had crawled 
in. What could the matter be ? Why so much de- 
lay? Our anxiety was finally set at rest by the sud- 
den appearance of those who had but a few minutes 
before gone into the mouth of the tunnel with such 
high hopes. Covered with perspiration — for it must 
be borne in mind that a tunnel of that nature is a 
** close corporation" — Parker gave the following ex- 
planation. Reaching the farthest end of the tunnel, 
he '■'' probed " the opening, and was about to emerge 
therefrom when his attention was attracted to a sen- 
tinel who stood leaning against the prison-wall a 
few yards away. Satisfied that our designs were 
suspected and that egress was impossible, the gallant 
captain " kicked back," and the party retreated, 
feet foremost, to the starting-point, and a more 
crest-fallen crowd I never saw. We had no means 
of covering our tracks, it being impossible to refill 
the hole in the sidewalk outside the prison-yard, 



60 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

and as we knew the gap would be discovered when 
daylight came, we slunk away to our quarters, and 
slept soundly till the sun rose next morning. When 
daylight came, the tunnel was discovered in a singu- 
lar manner. A cow, in passing along, had fallen into 
the pit, from which she was unable to extricate her- 
self. A vigilant sentinel, seeing her predicament, 
raised an alarm, which was speedily responded to by 
the officer of the day, who hastened to the spot, 
accompanied by two " reliefs." 

jtfhe prison commandant subsequently entered 
the yard : he expressed his surprise at our conduct, 
especially as he had shown much forbearance, and 
had been uniformly kind and obliging. He forbade 
further tunnelling. Should the attempt be made, 
however, discovery was certain, and would lead to 
unpleasant results. With this frank expostulation 
he retired. We congratulated ourselves upon the 
non-discovery of the tunnel in Grant's tent, and this 
we determined to push forward to an early comple- 
tion, although we felt that it would be necessary to 
extend it into a -grove on the opposite side of the 
street. But during the afternoon the commandant 
again appeared, this time with a party of officers, 
each of whom carried an iron ramrod. With these 
they probed the ground in each tent. They were 
about to cease their examination, when one of the 
officers accidentally dropped his rammer, which on 
being picked up, by some unaccountable means, 
became attached to the strap of one of the bags 
sunk in the shaft, and exclaiming, '' Hallo, what's 



SORELY DISAPPOINTED. 6 1 

this ? " stooped down, and after exerting considera- 
ble strength, hauled out a bag filled with dirt. Al- 
though the occupants of that tent expressed surprise 
at the discovery, nothing which they could say in 
explanation would satisfy the Confederates, who 
ordered the removal of the tent to another spot. 
The tunnel was destroyed during the afternoon, and 
again were we doomed to bitter disappointment. 

A day or two after this we commenced two 
other tunnels, and had made considerable headway 
with them, when one night we were discovered in 
the act of dragging the bags therefrom. Captains 
Grant and Benson, acknowledging that they were 
the responsible parties (although none of us saw any 
crime in the transaction), were marched to the city 
prison, where they were kept in close confinement for 
a week. They were on the point of escaping there- 
from, when they were escorted back to the yard. 
They reported to us that there were many Unionists 
in the city, and that if any of us could get away, the 
prospect of meeting with friendly assistance was ex- 
tremely good. 

There was one amusing, if not ridiculous feature 
of prison-life which may be worth mentioning; that 
was the all-absorbing question of " exchange." This 
word was in every one's mouth, and but little else 
was thought of or talked about. Every day, through 
the dreary months of our captivity, we heard rumors 
of a contemplated exchange. It, being a question 
of vital importance, was debated /rd? and con by all. 
We credited almost everything that we heard in re- 



62 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

lation to this matter, especially if the report corres- 
ponded with our wishes and our hopes. The sub- 
ject finally became a farce, and when two officers or 
more were seen conversing together, cries of" Louder 
on Exchange " w^ere sure to greet them. No term 
was used as much as " Louder on Exchange," and 
the phrase prompted the following, written by Lieu- 
tenant J. B. Vance, Company K, 95th Ohio Vols.: 

"LOUDER ON EXCHANGE." 

AIR — PUTTING ON AIRS. 

Of slang words there are many. 

Which this war about did bring, 
And among the rest, now there is one, 

About which I shall sing. 
You need not think I mean you ill, 

Nor take it very strange-, 
When I tell you that the words I mean, 

Are *' Louder on Exchange." 

Chorus — Every day, and every day, 
To me it is not strange. 
To hear the prisoners calling out, 
" Louder on Exchange." 

A group of friends together meet, 

With all arrangements made. 
Just to while away a pleasant hour, 

Some place in the shade. 
They are talking o'er the various plans 

Our government could arrange. 
When some one suddenly bellows out, 

" Louder on Exchange." 

Chorus. — Every day, etc. 



''LOUDER ON exchange:' 63 

Then you chance to get a paper. 

That contains a little news — 
Not enough to raise your spirits up, 

Or drive away the blues. 
A crowd gathers round you, and 

The first thing they exclaim, 
What's the news from our army, 

Next — " Louder on Exchange !/' 

Chorus. — Every day, etc. 

Then you hear of General Foster, 

And the rebel General Jones, 
How they swapped off fifty men. 

And sent them to their homes. 
You think the news is good enough, 

And nothing now remains ; 
You cannot help from calling out, 

" Louder on Exchange ! " 

Chorus. — Every day, etc. 

Our authorities at Washington, 

That very well we know, 
Will release us all in course of time, 

But it seems so very slow. 
And when we do get out of this, 

And have our freedom gained, 
There will be no more this calling out, 

" Louder on Exchange." 

Chorus— Every day, etc. 

This song became very popular, and was sung by 
all the prisoners with a vim peculiar to themselves 
and their condition. 

One morning, noticing that the Johnnies were 
more quiet than usual, we suspected that something 
had gone wrong with them, and we became decid- 



64 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

edly anxious to learn the news. Towards noon the 
sergeant of the guard gave us a copy of the Repub- 
lican, which explained the cause of grief on the part of 
our keepers. We read with pleasure of the capture 
of the "Gate City " (Atlanta), by Sherman. Seeing 
the officer of the day passing through camp shortly 
after, we inquired whether there was any news from 
Atlanta. '' No-o, gentlemen ! I — oh ! I haven't 
seen a paper in a week," and he walked hurriedly 
away, as if he had an important engagement else- 
where. We felt sorry for him. 

While we had many comforts at Savannah that 
had been denied us elsewhere, we never could ac- 
count for the caution which the Confederates took 
to prevent us from ascertaining the news. We peti- 
tioned General McClaws for permission to purchase 
the papers, but he disapproved our request. 

During the cool of mornings and evenings we 
took such exercise as was available, and felt all the 
better therefor. Take it all in all, our sojourn in 
Savannah was pleasant, far better than we expecte^d, 
and my recollections of the place are of an agree- 
able character. Many a time afterward I regretted 
leaving it. 

Nothing in particular occurred to disturb the 
monotony of our existence at Savannah. After we 
found tunnelling unproductive, we settled down to 
the natural order of things, becoming quite philo- 
sophic the more we reflected upon the hopelessness 
of making our escape. 



A RIDE TO THE '' CITY BY THE SEA." 65 

CHAPTER XL 

A RIDE TO THE '' CITY BY THE SEA." 

IT was at a late hour on the night of September 
1 2th, when we received an order to prepare two 
days' rations, and "be ready for departure at day- 
break. Immediately the camp was in the usual state 
of bustle attendant upon an order to move elsewhere, 
and a thousand and one rumors speedily got into 
circulation, followed, of course, by considerable ex- 
citement. True enough, as a clock in a neighboring 
church spire struck four, we marched out of the gate 
and through the principal streets to the depot, pass- 
ing en route the Pulaski monument, the statue upon 
which appeared to look pityingly upon us — many of 
the officers being barefooted and without proper 
apparel. 

A freight train was in waiting, and as none of 
us had any superfluous baggage, it required but a 
few minutes to complete our embarkation, when the 
signal being given to the engineer, the locomotive 
puffed away, and the quiet city was soon left far be- 
hind. The ride to Charleston was not of a partic- 
ularly attractive or romantic character, the ground 
being low and swampy, but said to be admirably 
adapted to rice-growing. Few houses were to be 
seen between the two cities. 

We reached Charleston about the middle of the 
afternoon, and were met at the depot by large num- 



66 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

bers of the slave population. While crossing the 
Ashley river we had a view of the harbor, Fort 
Sumpter, and the surrounding islands, but the train 
passed over the bridge too swiftly for us to observe 
all the beauties of the landscape. The weather was 
intensely hot, and several officers were overcome by 
the tropical heat. 

Formed in a column of fours we moved through 
narrow and dirty streets to the city jail-yard, before 
whose frowning walls we halted. A huge double 
gate at last swung lazily open, and into the filthiest 
place upon the American continent we marched. 

As we passed in an Irish woman cursed us bit- 
terly, expressing the wish that " not one of yees iver 
gits out alive." The yard, as I first saw it, beggared 
description, and my heart almost failed me when I 
saw the terrible surroundings. I took possession of 
an *' A tent " which had been pitched in the mud near 
the scaffold, but on learning that a prisoner had just 
died there with the yellow fever, I deserted it, and 
pre-empted a dry spot of ground directly under the 
scaffold, which place I occupied for two weeks. 

When night came I spread an old rotten blanket 
which I ha;d found, upon the ground, and attempted 
to sleep, but the infernal din created by the felons, 
of both sexes, who crowded to the grated windows 
for air, rendered such a luxury impossible. A 
heavy, chilling dew, which saturated my blanket and 
scanty apparel, added to my discomforts, and made 
me wish that we had not been forced to leave Sa- 
vannah. 



GEN. FOSTER'S COMPLIMENTS. 67 

At daybreak next morning I heard the "boom" 
of a heavy gun, and from the conduct of the older 
prisoners, I suspected that the Union General, John 
G. Foster, had renewed his fire. Sure enough. In a 
few moments we heard the terrible hissing and siss- 
ing of a monster shell, which, passing to our right, 
exploded with a fearful report a few hundred yards 
away, in front of the jail. A terrific cheer from the 
prisoners in the yard, workhouse. Roper and Marine 
hospitals, greeted the advent of the shell. I had 
heard much concerning the bombardment of Charles- 
ton, and in April, 1863, was on the expedition sent 
down to aid the navy in the capture of the city. 
For a week, a hundred shells a day were thrown into 
the city — some of them being projected a distance 
of between six and seven miles. Their explosion 
prevented sleep, and a very wakeful time I had until 
I became accustomed to the din. Very few shots 
were made that failed of execution, most of the mis- 
siles fell crashing through buildings, or setting them 
on fire, which was the point most aimed at. A 
Catholic priest, who entered the yard one day, said 
his house had been struck three times within the 
previous twenty-four hours, and as the general was 
sending over his compliments a little too often and 
too close for his personal comfort, he had been com- 
pelled to remove to a point out of reach of the guns. 
On the 17th of September a shell exploded in a large 
house nearly opposite the workhouse, setting it on 
fire. The firing ceased for a time, but when a great 
column of black smoke ascended skyward, the firing 



68 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

was resumed ; the shells came over with rapidity, 
dropping, one after the other, in nearly the same 
place, and preventing the firemen (negroes) from 
working for the preservation of adjoining property. 
The conflagration raged with violence all the after- 
noon, and till a late hour at night, when, having 
nothing further to feed upon, it died out, leaving 
the city in frightful darkness. One engine which 
the darkies ran by the jail, was '* smashed by one of 
dese rotten shot," as the foreman told us. Quite a 
number of persons were killed at this fire, according 
to the newspapers. At one time we were fearful 
that our gunners might possibly miss their calcula- 
tions, and drop a shell or two in the jail-yard, but 
nothing of the kind occurred, although several pieces 
of shell fell quite near the spot where I had my head- 
quarters, one piece tearing away a limb from a small 
tree standing near the water-closet, in the corner of 
the yard, which made me nervous. 

One day a shell demolished the rebel commis- 
sariat, which afforded the authorities an excuse for 
depriving us of three days' rations, while another 
shell was found bearing the label, '* Show me the 
way to the arsenal!' 

To compare our treatment received here with 
that at Savannah, it will only be necessary for me 
to say that the following rations and quantities 
were issued me for ten days: 

One pint of corn-meal, one quart of flour, one 
and a half quarts of beans (filled with worms, which 
answered for fresh beef), one tablespoonful of lard, 



i 



AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE. 69 

half-pint of sour molasses, one quart of rice — half 
worms, one spoonful of salt. 

No wonder I weighed but ninety pounds at this 
time. During our sojourn at Charleston, the yellow 
fever raged with unabated violence, the city being a 
vast charnel-house. Several of our keepers died in 
the office of the jail. Although the yard was a fetid 
place — an awful stench constantly arising therefrom 
— and we had neither palatable food nor sufficient 
quantities of what was issued, and no water in which 
to wash or clean our persons, yet we were miracu- 
lously preserved, which fact we acknowledged was 
entirely due to the gracious interposition of a<mer- 
ciful Providence. 

We petitioned General Jones for healthier quar- 
ters, but he refused to listen to our prayers — for all 
he cared we might continue to lie in the mud and 
filth, and DIE ! Some officers, however, finally 
gave their parole, and obtained pleasant quarters 
on Broad Street, and in other localities. 

One afternoon, a long-haired, clean-faced gentle- 
man, whose garb betrayed the calling of a clergy- 
man, visited us, and after commiserating our wretch- 
edness, rejoiced our hearts by saying that he had it 
in his power to ameliorate our condition. Was he 
a commissioner of exchange in disguise, I wondered ? 
No. He was simply a minister of the gospel, and 
having a sum of money — Confederate notes, of 
course, for which he had no use at present — it oc- 
curred to him that he could be serving his Master 
and himself at the same time by loaning his scrip 



70 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

to the unfortunate men who were suffering the vi- 
cissitudes of war. He took us to be gentlemen — for 
certainly the government would not commission any 
man who was not a " gentleman" — and being " gen- 
tlemen," of course if we took his treasure, giving him 
drafts on our friends at home ior gold, at the rate of 
one dollar for six in Confederate scrip, of course the 
" drafts would be honored " when presented. I was 
finally prevailed upon by the " Lord's disciple " to 
accept some two hundred dollars, giving him in 
return therefor a draft on my father, who was to 
redeem it in gold. Other officers bled the disciple 
without any compunction, some of them drawing a 
thousand dollars each. The "disciple," who doubt- 
less imagined that he was going about doing good — 
for himself, speedily got clear of his scrip, and bid- 
ding us " good day, gentlemeit,'' took his departure. 
I will venture to say that he never realized enough 
in gold from that afternoon's work to pay him for 
the wear of his jaw while talking to us upon the 
advantages that would accrue from the transaction. 
A few months after I got home from the army, my 
draft was presented for payment, but in less time 
than it takes me to relate the incident, the holder 
was kicked down two pair of office stairs. I never 
heard anything more about the matter. The money 
which the old man insisted upon my accepting, was 
expended to very good advantage, in the purchase 
of fresh white bread, occasionally, and onions and 
potatoes. 

On the 9th of September, feeling as if I could 



MEETING OLD FRIENDS. 7I 

not long survive the torments of the fetid place, I 
wrote to Maj.-Gen. John G. Foster, whom I learned 
was now in command of the besieging forces, and a 
few days later I received the following : 

Headqrs. Dpt. of the South, Hilton Head, S. C. 
Sept. 21, 1864. 

Lieut. J. Madison Drake, 

Charleston Jail- Yard. 
Sir: — Major-General Foster directs me to ac- 
knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th inst., 
asking his assistance in procuring an exchange for 
you. He sympathizes with you in your confine- 
ment, and desires me to say that he shall not for- 
get the services of yourself or your gallant regiment 
in North Carolina. Should, however, exchanges be 
resumed in this department, he feels that justice will 
require him to seek the delivery of our officers and 
men as nearly as possible in the order in which they 
were captured. Very respectfully yours, 

Stewart L. Woodford, Lieut.-Col. etc. 



CHAPTER XII. 
meeting old friends. 

TOWARDS the latter part of September, I was 
engaged, one intensely hot afternoon, in en- 
deavoring to extemporize a tent at the foot of the 
scaffold, when I imagined I heard my name called. 
Looking around, and seeing no one who appeared 
to be addressing me, I went on with my labor. 



72 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

Directly I heard, " Drake, is that you, Drake?" I 
stepped back a few feet, and looking over the high 
brick wall, whither I now knew the voice proceeded, 
saw my old friend. Captain James Belger, standing 
upon the rear piazza of the Marine Hospital, leaning 
forward over the hand-railing. *' Don't you want to 
leave that hole and come in here ?" enquired the 
gallant captain. " Yes, but how am I to get in 
there?" I asked. 

" There is nothing easier," replied Belger. " Give 
your parole, and you can come around at once." 

" I'll never do that, for I mean to get away at 
the first opportunity," I responded. 

'■'' If you don't leave that filthy yard pretty soon, 
you will not live to make another attempt; you look 
like death now," insisted my good friend. 

After some further parleying, I took the captain's 
advice, gave my parole to an officer who speedily 
waited upon me for that purpose, and that evening 
had a delightful chat with Belger, Captain Seth B. 
Ryder and others, whom I had not seen or heard 
from since leaving Macon. Captain Ryder, to whose 
squad I was at once assigned, searched about the 
building until he found a " bunk," which was allotted 
to my use. Now I began to live again. With the 
rations, which Ryder always divided in an equitable 
manner, and with the money which I novv^ had, I 
managed to have plenty to eat. We *' chipped in" 
and purchased several instruments, and every after- 
noon and evening large crowds were attracted in front 
of our quarters to listen to charming vocal and in- 



A NO THER CHA NGE OF BA SE. 7 3 

strumental music. Our situation was now so com- 
fortable that we began to feel like staying, but I 
never remember of any camp that we liked where 
we remained long after getting things fixed to suit 
us. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

ANOTHER CHANGE OF BASE, AND A LEAP FOR 
LIBERTY. 

ON the evening of October 5th it became ap- 
parent that the Confederates were not content 
to leave us and " well enough" alone. From certain 
movements on their part we became satisfied that 
another change of base had been resolved upon by 
our keepers. To be prepared for any emergency 
which might arise, Captain Harry H. Todd, 8th 
New Jersey Volunteers, Captain J. E. Lewis, nth 
Connecticut Volunteers, Captain Albert Grant, 19th 
Wisconsin Volunteers, and myself, resolved to es- 
cape whenever removed from Charleston, and ac- 
cordingly purchased a quantity of supplies, such as 
lucifer matches, onions, etc. During the evening 
we succeeded in getting hold of a piece of an old 
map of the Southern States, and this we studied till 
a late hour, when we retired — to again dream of 
" freedom." 

We had not been mistaken in our prognostica- 
tions, for breakfast was hardly concluded when a 



74 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

squad of Confederates marched up in front of the 
hospital, and bade us ** come out." In ten minutes 
our entire party were in the street, where another 
batch joined us, when we started for the depot — 
marching up King street, I believe it was. The 
thoroughfare was a wide one and looked as if it had 
once been prominent, but now all was changed. The 
stores were closed, many buildings had been demol- 
ished, and grass grew luxuriantly between the cobble- 
stones of the pavement. War had had its revenge 
upon the city by the sea — the birthplace of the hy- 
dra-headed monster had been prostrated. When we 
reached the train, myself and three comrades kept 
closely together, and, watching our opportunity, 
sprang into the car adjoining the *' caboose," which 
contained the reserve guard. We had an object in 
this, for we well knew that in the event of our jump- 
ing from the car in safety, the train, being some 
distance beyond us when our flight was discovered, 
would prevent the guards, posted on- the top of 
each car, from hitting us, unless they were much 
better marksmen than " home-guards " in those 
days were supposed to be. At all events the car 
suited our plans best, and into it some fifty officers 
were huddled together. Just before starting, a 
sergeant and six armed men also climbed in. They 
took the precaution to close the sliding-doors on one 
side, and opening the others on the shady side, 
deliberately sat down therein. We had not expected 
this manoeuvre on their part, and for a time felt that 
it would be impossible to leap from the car. As 



POLITE TO THE GUARDS. 75 

good luck would have it, the rickety old locomotive 
gave out several times along the road, and much 
delay occurred in repairing its worn-out machinery. 
Myself and comrades kept as close to the open doors 
as possible, and did our best to cultivate the good-will 
of the guards, who, finally, became quite sociable and 
communicative. We purchased black molasses cakes 
from the old colored women who came to the train 
whenever it stopped, and occasionally we bought 
cigars, at fifty cents each, which we presented to 
the guards, who, from their actions, judged we were 
capital fellows. The sergeant, during the afternoon, 
permitted Todd, Grant, and Lewis to sit in the open 
doorway, with their legs dangling outside. I now 
thought it was '* all up " with poor me, but I con- 
cluded to maintain my position and watch events. 

Long before the train reached the point where 
we had decided to leave it, I had succeeded in re- 
moving the percussion caps from every rifle in the 
car. This was only accomplished after repeated 
efforts. Had I been detected at this dangerous 
work, perhaps it would have gone hard with me, as 
my friend Belger has often said, but *' he who would 
himself be free, must strike the blow." When I re- 
moved the cap from the last rifle, which required 
much tact in its consummation, I felt that half the 
battle was gained, and the victory ours. Giving the 
cap to Captain Belger who had repeatedly attempted 
to dissuade me from the dangerous task, I told him 
that I intended shortly to leap from the car, and re- 
quested him, if he lived to return North, to write to 



7^ FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

my family, giving them information of my escape, 
and the route which I had made up my mind to take 
to rejoin them. I did this, because I was somewhat 
fearful of failing in an undertaking which my com- 
rades constantly declared to be foolhardy and dan- 
gerous in the extreme. Belger protested against 
my jumping from the car, saying that if I succeeded 
in reaching /^rr(^^rw<^ without breaking my head or 
a limb, which he regarded as a certainty, I could not 
hope to gain the Union lines, more than five hun- 
dred miles distant. He argued that the South 
Carolina swamps, through which I must pass, were 
obstacles not easily to be overcome, while if we 
reached the mountains we would either starve or 
die at the hands of the guerrillas who infested them. 
The weather, too, would soon be inclement, and ex- 
posure to it, sure to result in terrible suffering. My 
good friend, by whose side, almost, I had stood in 
many a battle, implored me to follow his advice, but 
with eyes bedimmed, I pressed his hands, and took 
my position near the doorway, ready to leap there- 
from the moment my companions sprang off. 

The shades of night began to envelop the earth 
just before the train approached the southern end 
of the long and rickety wooden structure spanning 
the Congaree river, which made it quite difficult for 
me to watch the movements of my friends. The 
sergeant and his men seemed to occupy positions 
nearer to the door, which caused apprehension on 
my part, a suspicion taking possession of my mind 
that our intentions were suspected, and our plans 






A LEAP FOR LIBERTY 79 

about to be thwarted. We could not converse with 
each other, owing to the pecuHarity of our situation 
and the proximity of our enemies. We each held 
our breath, and anxiously bided our time and oppor- 
tunity. The train finally touched upon the left 
bank of the Congaree, and still Todd did not give the 
signal. Peering out I saw that the cars continued 
to pass over trestle-work, which probably accounted 
for the delay. Todd suddenly became sick, or pre- 
tended to be sick, which was all the same, so far as 
his purpose was concerned, and while gagging, pre- 
paratory to vomiting, he slid out of the car — Lewis 
and Grant, both of whom occupied seats by his 
side, going with him. I saw them depart, and as the 
rebel sergeant threw up his hands in dismay, exclaim- 
ing " My God !" I sprang out of the doorway with 
the bound of a man determined to be free, if a single 
jump would attain that object. I shall never forget 
the thousand and one thoughts that crowded through 
my mind as I leaped from that rapidly moving 
train, and whirled through the air on the principle 
of a buzz-saw. That moment was the most thrilling 
of any I ever experienced, and the incentive must 
needs be a powerful one that would again tempt me 
to repeat it, even under the most favorable circum- 
stances. 

Regaining my feet, I hastened along the railway 
embankment until I found my three companions, all 
of whom, like myself, were in the possession of 
every faculty, neither of them being at all injured, 
although two of them received scratches by tumbling 



80 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

into a bramble-bush. But we had no leisure to 
reflect upon our novel situation. Fortune had been 
kind to us so far — that was sufficient for all practi- 
cal purposes. Besides, those rifle flashes — the train 
was now a mile and more distant — warned us that if 
we would avoid recapture, much remained to be 
accomplished. At once striking off" into a dismal 
swamp, which lined the river's bank, we placed as 
much space as was possible between ourselves and 
our infuriated pursuers. Captain Grant narrowly- 
escaped drowning, shortly after starting, but we 
fished him out of the pond, and continued our flight. 
To add to our discomforts, the rain fell in torrents ; 
and believing this would serve to efface our tracks 
and partially destroy the scent, we felt thankful for 
the storm, which continued throughout the entire 
night with unabated violence. It was impossible 
to see one another, save by the lightning's fitful 
flashes, the darkness rendering walking difficult. 
The swamp, at another time, would have been re- 
garded as a dismal place, but now it had the great- 
est attractions, and was considered the most delight- 
ful resort we had ever visited. By and by, hearing 
the deep baying of the blood-hounds, which sent the 
blood coursing double quick through our veins, we 
redoubled our efforts and waded deeper into the 
recesses of the gloomy woods. The dogs would 
be unable to track us in the swamp, on account of 
the water, but if they surrounded it, would we be 
able to escape them when we ventured forth, which 
we must do, sooner or later? The wind howled, 



A START FOR GOD'S COUNTRY. 8 1 

but occasionally, as we heard the dogs and the voices 
of their owners, our reflections were not of the pleas- 
antest character. 

Towards daybreak, when everything had become 
quiet, I began to reflect upon the dangers I had 
escaped, upon the many chances of fortune which 
had resulted favorably to me, upon the liberty I was 
beginning to enjoy and which I had long sought to 
gain. This greatly moved me, and in thankfulness 
to a merciful Providence I felt as though suffocating 
with sensibility until tears came to my relief. 

We were somewhat alarmed next morning, on 
hearing the dogs barking furiously, as if they had 
the right scent, but towards noon they were called 
off, and all was peace and quiet. During the day, 
which was a terribly long one, we stood in mud and 
water, waist deep, at times endeavoring to while away 
the hours in playing cards, but the games were 
totally uninteresting. All our conversations were 
carried on in whispers for several days, as we were 
fearful of being overheard. We neglected no possi- 
ble precaution, having resolved to take no risks, if 
such could be avoided. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

A START FOR GOD'S COUNTRY. 

JUST as the sun disappeared we stood upon the 
verge of the swamp, listening attentively, and not 
seeing or hearing anything which looked like danger 






82 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

to US, we emerged into an open field, surrounded by 
a heavy undergrowth of trees. A new bright moon 
appeared to give us the point of direction and to 
guide us on our lonely way. We moved with ex- 
treme caution, halting repeatedly to listen, but 
nothing disturbed the harmony of that wild, save 
the chirping of birds. Avoiding roads and paths, 
and keeping as near the woods as possible, we hast- 
ened on — our course being northwest. The Wateree 
river on our right, and the railroad to our left, 
would serve us in maintaining the direction which 
we had agreed to take. We made rapid progress 
during the night, marching at the rate of between 
three and a half and four miles per hour. It was 
the darkest hour before daybreak when we " struck" 
a broad smooth turnpike. Seeing a white object 
near by, which resembled a mile-post, we climbed 
over the fence, and striking a match, read " 19 miles 
to C." At this instant, it seemed as if pandemonium 
had been let loose, for down the road came a num- 
ber of dogs, followed by men who shouted and cursed 
in a horrible manner. Springing over the fence with 
an agility that would have reflected credit upon 
acrobats, we ran with lightning-like rapidity across 
an open field in the direction of the river, until so 
much exhausted by the exertion that we were com- 
pelled to halt for a ** rest," lying down on the bank 
of the river and sleeping serenely till the sun's heat 
awoke us. 

Having no disposition to lose time, we resumed 
our journey, and almost before aware of it, had ap- 



P URSUED B Y BLOOD-HO UNDS. 83 

preached to within a short distance of a large steam 
saw-mill. We '■' laid low" and watched the premises. 
Seeing two men and a dog moving about, we retro- 
graded, and crossing a large open field, gained a 
heavy woods, where we commenced the preparation 
of *' breakfast." It was the work of but a few mo- 
ments to kindle a fire (always a small one), in which 
to roast some ears of corn. While felicitating each 
other upon the good time we were having, our hair 
was made to stand upon each particular end by see- 
ing a number of dogs dashing towards us. We left 
that spot in some haste, leaving the corn in the 
ashes, and I have never thought well of a dog since 
they deprived me of a breakfast that morning. We 
made for a heavy woods, and after entering, found 
them bordered with a stream of running water — too 
wide to jump, too deep to wade, and impossible for 
me to swim. What to do we knew not. The dogs 
were advancing, howling at every leap, and unless we 
could cross that stream and find safety in that swamp, 
all would be lost, for recapture, if not death, would 
be certain. Hearing the voices of men, now squarely 
upon our trail, we continued on up the right bank 
of the stream, until our hearts leaped with joy at the 
sight of an old tree, which in falling had completely 
spanned it. Todd, Lewis and myself crawled in safety 
to the opposite side, where we awaited Grant, whose 
movements, at this time, were provokingly slow. 
The old man finally reached the middle of the stream, 
when the log gave way, precipitating him into the 
water, ten feet below. Reaching him a branch from 



84 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

a tree, he had the kindness to take hold, when we 
pulled him out. But didn't he swear when he found 
that the extra pair of stockings which he carried in 
his pocket, had become soaked ? We lost no time 
in gaining the densest portion of what proved to be 
an immense cypress swamp, and as forbidding-look- 
ing reptiles were too numerous for our personal com- 
fort, we crawled out upon the uppermost branches 
of a mammoth pine-tree which had been prostrated 
by the wind — perhaps many years ago — to dry our 
apparel and obtain needed rest. Had it not been 
for venomous snakes, which we saw crawling about, 
we would perhaps have remained here all night, but 
the snakes were too many for us, rendering a change 
of quarters absolutely necessary for our safety. 
Todd climbed several lofty trees for the purpose of 
observation, but he failed to see anything which re- 
sembled land. We made repeated attempts to get 
out of the swamp, failing each time, and were about 
to give up in despair, being nearly exhausted, when 
at sun down, we suddenly emerged therefrom, having 
fortunately struck a high and open country, a stretch 
that we had not before seen. Away to our right, we 
saw a village, and lights flitting about ; but having 
no relatives or friends in that direction, we took a 
northerly course, tramping uninterruptedly for hours 
across beautiful plantations, stopping now and then 
to pull sweet potatoes which we found along the 
route. It was a delightful night, calculated to in- 
spire men in our position with hope, and the reader 
may rest assured we took every advantage of it. 



A TERRIBLE MISFORTUNE. ' Sj 

Feeling encouraged with what we had already ac- 
complished, and believing that if we at all times 
manifested prudence we might reach the Union lines, 
we halted just before daylight and roasted some de- 
licious sweet potatoes and several ears of corn which 
we had plucked from still standing stalks. We also 
boiled coffee — a small quantity of which we had 
brought with us from Charleston. 

The breakfast was all that we desired, and we 
partook of it with great relish, Todd estimating 
that such a meal would cost us forty dollars each in 
Charleston or Macon. The atmosphere being quite 
frosty, we kept the fire burning, then laid down and 
courted tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep. 
How long we slept I never knew. When I awoke 
I saw a party of armed men running up the slope 
towards us. Self-preservation being the first law of 
nature, and having no weapons, save cudgels, where- 
with to defend ourselves, we sprang to our feet and 
darted off in an opposite direction, speedily gaining 
a contiguous swamp, whose lonesome depths we 
became quite familiar with before the sun went down 
that day. It was not till we felt " safe" that we 
discovered an irreparable loss. We retreated from 
our camping ground in such haste that we left be- 
hind our cooking utensils, knives, forks, a towel, 
several boxes of matches, etc., besides our entire 
stock of rations. 

This was a terrible misfortune, causing intense 
wretchedness. The food we did not care so much 
about, but the matches and towel, and especially 



86 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

the knives and the pot in which we boiled our coffee, 
etc., would be sadly missed, and so they often were. 
We remained in the swamp till after dark, then 
commenced our tramp, keeping as near the wood- 
land as possible. 

Next morning broke in great splendor, the coun- 
try presenting a charming appearance. We continued 
to maintain a sharp lookout for the " men folks," 
and kept steadily on until noon, when we sat down 
on the edge of a heavy woods to " rest." We slept 
an hour or two, and feeling refreshed, pursued a 
course heading to the North, walking rapidly, notic- 
ing during the afternoon a number of houses, also 
white boys and negroes busy at work. Towards 
morning, the weather became quite cold, and being 
greatly fatigued, we looked about, in a quiet little 
valley, for a place where we could sleep without fear 
of interruption. Seeing a small frame dwelling, 
somewhat dilapidated, which looked as if it had not 
been recently occupied, we cautiously neared it, and 
finding everything clear, entered. The ground floor, 
filled with straw, afforded us ample fuel, and after 
warming sufficiently, we threw ourselves back upon 
the straw, and soon were in the land of nod. I do 
not remember when I slept more comfortably than 
in that old shanty. We made the most of it, as we 
might not find so luxurious a couch again in the 
C. S. A. 



AN EXCITING ADVENTURE. 87 

CHAPTER XV. 

AN EXCITING ADVENTURE. 

CAREFULLY extinguishing the fire, we closed 
the door, went out into the frosty air, and were 
well on our way when the sun came peeping over 
some small hills on our right. How hungry we had 
become ! I thought I should perish, for we had been 
fasting a good while. We visited a field where corn 
had been recently grown, and our search therein 
was rewarded with success, although the ears picked 
up were both hard and dry. The question of sub- 
sistence began to grow unpleasantly urgent, and we 
thought of little else now. We saw a white boy 
driving cows, and secreted ourselves in the bushes 
until he had passed by, then made for the low lands, 
in order to escape being seen by the inmates of 
several farm houses which were but a short distance 
ahead. In a swamp we found berries, grapes, etc., 
upon which we gorged ourselves for an hour, when 
we continued on our way, the walking being ex- 
ceedingly unpleasant, owing to the mud and water. 
During the afternoon it fell to the lot of Grant 
and myself to make an effort to procure food of 
some sort, and with this in view we made a recon- 
noissance to the rear of a small house near the edge 
of the swamp. We crawled along upon the ground 
until we got quite near to the habitation, when, not 
having noticed any men about the premises, we 



88 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

raised up and started towards the house. We had 
gone but a few yards, however, when we saw three 
rebels emerge from the kitchen, and several dogs 
following closely at their heels. The breath nearly 
left my body, but I retained sufficient presence of 
mind to drop to the ground, and looking around, I 
saw that the captain had done likewise. I saw no 
way of escape, still hope did not entirely desert me. 
We fairly hugged the ground, with our faces towards 
the Johnnies, and in this manner, slid backwards to 
the swamp, gaining which we sprang to our feet and 
ran to our comrades, who were in ill-humor when 
they saw that we had failed to procure for them 
something to eat, demonstrating how ungrateful 
men can become when they are more than half- 
starved. Fearful that we might have been seen, we 
sprang into a stream of running water and waded 
downwards for a mile or so in order to more effect- 
ually destroy the scent, should the ever dreaded 
dogs get upon our trail. We then crossed a deep 
creek by crawling over a pole, which we had to drag 
a long distance through the swamp for bridge pur- 
poses. We made all the progress possible, and as 
the shades of night once more gathered around us, 
we built a fire at the foot of a large turpentine 
tree, and lying down, were soon wrapped in sleep. 
Awakened soon after by a terrible crackling noise, 
we saw the flames had climbed the tree a distance 
of twenty feet, illuminating the woods, and making 
everything near by as bright as day. We knew 
how useless it would be to attempt to extinguish 



NEARLY FA MI SHED, S^ 

the fire, so we ran away from that spot as fast as our 
legs could carry us, our movements being greatly 
accelerated by the blowing of a horn, which is never 
sounded at night, except as a signal of danger or 
trouble. Had a high wind prevailed, the woods 
would have been destroyed, for turpentine trees 
burn like tinder. We could not travel much far- 
ther without food. I was so weak I could scarcely 
place one foot before the other, and it was doubt- 
ful whether I could hold out much longer. I had, 
since the battle of Roanoke Island, suffered from a 
chronic complaint, which, with my experience in the 
prison-pens, had greatly enfeebled me. Captain 
Todd, a sturdy Scotsman, always encouraged me, 
and at all times lent me a helping hand. When he 
could save me from getting wet, he took me in his 
strong arms and carried me across streams of cold 
water. At an early hour next morning, we struck a 
wagon road in the woods, and shortly afterwards ob- 
served a small house, from the rudely-constructed 
chimney of which was lazily ascending blue smoke. 
Secreting ourselves in the underbrush adjacent, we 
watched the premises for more than half an hour, 
until satisfied that there were no men about, when 
Todd and Lewis, their turn now, crawled up, and 
after listening at the door, timidly knocked, asking 
for food. Grant and myself remained near by to 
give the alarm, should danger threaten. We saw 
our comrades enter, and great was our joy thereat. 
We could hardly restrain ourselves from following, 
so great was our hunger. They did not return as 



90 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

we expected, and we speculated on the causes which 
induced them to tarry when they knew that we were 
nearly famished. Directly we saw two rebels stand- 
ing at the door, leaning on their rifles. How they 
got there, or where they came from, we could not 
tell ; we had heard nothing, seen nothing, but there 
they were, and what could we do about it ? Noth- 
ing remained but to await developments. Strange 
to say, the incident ended all right. By and by 
the door opens, and out step Todd and Lewis, 
followed by the '* Johnnies." They laugh quite 
heartily together, which surprises us, and as they 
pass along, we hear the two "Johnnies" coaxing 
the two Yankees to accompany them to Ridgway 
to — vote. We follow noiselessly at a respectful 
distance, and when the parties separate, we hasten 
to join our comrades, who had brought us a quart of 
sweet potatoes and a piece of corn-bread, for which 
they had paid the poor housekeeper fifteen dollars. 
Grant and myself made short work of the bread, as 
we marched rapidly along, when Todd gave us the 
particulars of his visit. He said that after entering 
the humble domicile, the woman kindly invited 
them to sit down at the table and breakfast. They 
stood not upon the order of the invitation, but did 
as requested. The meal was nearly finished when 
they saw the two rebs enter — one of whom was a 
brother of the hostess, at home on a furlough. 
Todd took in the situation at a glance, and at once 
engaged the new-comers in conversation, using the 
slang of the " poor white trash," which he could 



A NARROW ESCAPE. gl 

imitate to perfection. The rebs eyed Todd and 
Lewis suspiciously, that was easily to be seen, but 
as it was do or die, the offensive was at once assumed. 
Todd lied in so plausible a manner, that the John- 
nies were speedily thrown off their guard, and in a 
few minutes the party might have been adjudged 
members of the same command, so very communi- 
cative were each to the other. Finally, the rebs in- 
vited Todd and Lewis to accompany them to the 
polls to vote, saying whisky would be free and 
plenty. Todd said he didn't take any interest in 
politics, and preferred being excused, — besides, he 
was anxious to reach his home at Ebenezer, N. C, 
his mother being very ill. We congratulated our- 
selves upon getting clear of the well-meaning 
" Johnnies," for it was a very narrow escape indeed. 

The country which we were now exploring was 
quite hilly, proving that we had made considerable 
headway, and that if careful, we might yet be able 
to reach the mountains. Shunning, during the day, 
all paths and roads, we did not walk as fast as at 
night, when there was less danger, and when we 
could avail ourselves of the thoroughfares. Just 
before dark we found, near the edge of a swamp, 
some corn still on stalks, also an abundance of brown 
beans. We picked all that it was convenient for us 
to carry, and entering the swamp, built a fire where 
we cooked the beans in a pint tin basin, and roasted 
our corn. Under the protection of a bough-house, 
we slept serenely for several hours. 

Long before daylight we were on our journey, 



g2 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

marching till noon without a halt. We baked more 
beans — a tedious process— roasted corn, and feasted 
sumptuously thereon. During the afternoon I met 
with a great misfortune — my right foot giving 
out. This was my greatest cause for sorrow till the 
other failed to answer the purpose intended. Todd 
was attacked by a large venomous snake, which he 
succeeded in killing after a desperate engagement. 
Owing to the openness of the country we made but 
little progress during the day. It was impossible to 
reach the heavy woodland without diverging a long 
distance from our true course. While resting in a 
small grove, near the turnpike, we heard the sound 
of an axe. Grant, satisfied that it must be wielded 
by a negro, proceeded in the direction of the wel- 
come sound, and found, without difficulty, the object 
of his search. The poor old slave was greatly 
frightened on seeing the captain, who soon gained 
the darkey's confidence. The slave said his " mass'r " 
was a ** bad man," but he would do all in his power 
to relieve Grant's distress, if the latter would meet 
him at the same place after dark. He promised to 
bring all the food he could get. Before the captain 
could take the bearings of the spot, the negro sud- 
denly became very much excited, and bade him run, 
" for dere comes mass'r." Grant turned his head, 
and seeing a white man advancing towards him, took 
to his heels. We saw Grant running as if for life, 
and wondered what the matter could be. He took 
a circuitous course, and was soon out of our sight. 
Positive that there was danger, we " laid low." 



SA VED HIS WN LIFE, 93 

Directly we saw a white man coming squarely 
towards where we lay. In his arms he carried two 
or three dozen ears of corn, which he had just 
plucked from the stalks. He looked neither to the 
right nor the left, which convinced us that he had 
not seen Grant, who was still non est. We watched 
him closely, and the nearer he advanced, the more 
did I perspire, for we had determined to kill him in 
case he discovered us. We could not allow him to 
continue on if he saw us, for he would certainly be- 
tray us, in which case our recapture or death was 
quite certain — as we could not hope to reach a 
swamp in case of a vigorous pursuit. I was devoutly 
thankful when he passed by, with his sorrowful eyes 
cast upon the ground. He never knew the danger 
he was in, or that he had saved his own life. The 
captain soon after rejoined us, narrating his experi- 
ence, and advising us to wait for night, in order to 
meet the darkey, but the majority deciding the lo- 
cality to be dangerous, we hurried away. Whether 
the slave kept his appointment we never knew. It 
rained nearly all night, but the sun appeared in the 
morning and speedily dried our soaked apparel. 

The morning of the thirteenth was a glorious 
one. The sun shone brightly on the foliage, which 
had already assumed a myriad of beautiful colors, 
caused by the action of the frost. Troubled with 
our complaint — hunger — we reconnoitred along the 
outskirts of several plantations for something to eat, 
but our persevering efforts went unrewarded. 
Noticing a large number of negroes at work in a 



94 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

cotton-field, we crawled to within a short distance of 
them, and endeavored to attract their attention. 
When they at last saw us, the poor creatures raised 
an alarm and ran toward their houses, making a 
great noise. Not deeming it advisable to longer 
remain, we hastened away in an opposite direction, 
running some four or five miles until we believed 
ourselves safe, when we halted and cooked some 
beans, which we had providentially found along the 
way. While enjoying refreshing sleep, we were ruth- 
lessly awakened by Lewis, who was endeavoring to 
kill a huge cotton snake which, to his terror, he had 
found crawling upon his person. His snakeship was 
finally killed. At sunset we started again and con- 
tinued on until it became too dark (in the woods) for 
us to proceed farther. It was quite difficult at times 
for us to keep the north star in sight, and unless we 
could follow that bright guide there was but little 
use in moving on, as we should lose more ground 
than we could gain. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

FED BY NEGROES IN THE SWAMPS. 

NEXT day we were made happy in finding some 
wild grapes, also pomegranates, which we de- 
voured in a greedy manner. While picking pome- 
granates we were suddenly confronted by a colored 
boy and a white girl, the latter running off on see- 
ing us. We entered into conversation with the lad, 



FED BY NEGROES IN THE SWAMPS. 95 

gave him a dollar bill, and " pumped " him to the 
best of our ability. He said he had recently come 
up here from Florida — that the Yankees were mov- 
ing in that quarter and that most of the slaves had 
been sent to South Carolina for safety. He said we 
were ten miles from the railroad, and to the north- 
ward of Winnboro ; and promising to say nothing 
about having seen us, he left, when we likewise hur- 
ried away. 

While proceeding along, shortly after this, we saw 
a negro. Grant gave chase and overhauled him, al- 
lowing him to go after he had promised to supply us 
with food as soon as it became dark. We waited for 
him, believing that he would keep his word. True 
enough he came at last, although we had long since 
given up all hope of seeing him again. He brought 
us four large pones of corn bread, a little coarse salt, 
which we much needed, two quarts of excellent 
maple syrup, and last, but not least, a plug of to- 
bacco. The slave, who was quite interesting, gave 
us much valuable information, directing us as to the 
best route to follow, etc. We parted from our good 
friend with feelings of genuine sorrow. 

There was something almost royal in the cheer- 
fully-rendered services of the negroes ; they seemed 
to look upon us as in some way sufferers for their 
sake, and they fairly loaded us with kindnesses. 
" Mass'r's berry welcome." This was always their 
greeting, the spice that enriched all their homely 
talk. Often did the darkies gather around us in the 
woods and swamps after dark, bringing us corn- 



9^ FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

meal, etc., and drinking in all our words about the 
*' free North." One thing particularly struck us in 
our intercourse with these dusky sons of toil, they 
understood perfectly, notwithstanding their remote- 
ness from the theatre of conflict, the causes and ten- 
dencies of the war, and were at all times eager to 
escape with us to the Canaan which soon after was 
so fully and freely opened to them. They had an 
almost childish faith in '' Mass'r Linkum," whom, 
above all others, they were most anxious to hear 
about. 

Marching along with accelerated pace late that 
evening, our hearts were gladdened by a thrice wel- 
come sound — the cackling of geese. A reconnois- 
sance revealed a pen near the roadside. Captain 
Todd, never behind-hand in any enterprise which 
promised food, sprang over a high fence, entered the 
pen, seized a noisy goose, and made good his escape. 
The poor goose flapped its wings in vain, for Todd 
held it with the grip of a vice. But despite all he 
could do, the head remained fast to the body ; it 
could not be twisted off. I never saw a goose make 
such a determined struggle for life. It had a won- 
derful tenacity, not only while alive, but also after 
its violent death. We thoroughly roasted the old 
"■ patriarch," as we called him, and when dorTe to a 
perfect brown, ate very heartily of him. I appre- 
hend that he would have tasted much better if we 
had salt wherewith to savor him, but lacking that 
necessary ingredient, and considering the circum- 
stances under which we dined, '* roast goose" proved 



A FRIEND INDEED. 97 

not to be as palatable as we had fondly imagined it 
would. To sum up, briefly, that goose was a mis- 
erable failure, but he had revenge for his untimely 
death in making each of us very sick. I never had 
any inclination since then to taste '' roast goose." 

The next day the weather was dreary, the sun 
failing to put in an appearance. The sky was over- 
cast, the clouds dark and lowering, the atmosphere 
damp and chilly. Soon after starting, we fell in 
with three colored men, who cheerfully supplied us 
with five quarts of meal, for which we gave them 
two dollars. We suffered a good deal, each vomit- 
ing freely, which caused us to hanker more than 
ever for salt. Towards midnight, we sat down in 
some bushes by the roadside and debated as to how 
we should proceed in order to procure the desired 
article. While thus engaged, and feverish with anx- 
iety, we heard approaching steps. The moon shone 
brilliantly, and nothing, save the slow steps and the 
crowing of cocks on an adjacent plantation, dis- 
turbed the stillness of the beautiful night. We 
scarcely breathed, fearing that the person approach- 
ing might be a rebel patrolling the road. When 
directly opposite, we saw that the object of our 
alarm was an old, decrepid colored man, scarcely 
able to hobble along, even with the aid of a long 
staff which he managed to use in a dexterous manner. 
Satisfied that we had nothing to fear from him, we 
rose from our hiding place, and stepping into the 
roadway, in a low, firm voice, halted him. He 
looked at each of us, and appeared greatly bewil- 



98 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

dered. On his arm was suspended a large basket, 
containing a very large loaf or " pone" of bread. 
It was but the work of a moment to *' bless" that 
bread, and before the old man recovered from his 
surprise, we were cramming portions of it down our 
hungry throats. He became quite communicative 
when he found that we had no disposition to injure 
him. We asked him where the cavalry were posted, 
and whether any of the " boys" had been along this 
way to-night. The old fellow told us all he knew 
about the '' horsemen," for he believed we were 
'* Johnnies" off on a ''skylark," as he told us before 
we left him. We coaxed him to get us some salt, 
but he said he was some distance from his home. 
However, after much persuasion, he shook his great 
feet out of his old slippers, and made his way to a 
large and handsome house near by. In a few min- 
utes he was again at our side, furnishing us with 
about a quart of the much-desired article, which he 
said ''auntie" had given him. His great kindness 
and service merited a rich reward, so we tendered 
him the last twenty-dollar bill in our possession, but 
this he refused to accept. We then told him that 
we were Yankee soldiers escaping from prison, but 
this he did not believe : if he did, he had a wonderful 
faculty in keeping the secret to himself. We asked 
him to look at us sharply, and at our blue clothing. 
On becoming satisfied that we were veritable Yan- 
kees — the first he had ever seen, he gave way to out- 
ward demonstrations of joy, so much so, that we 
had to check the exuberance of his spirits by plac- 



THE POOR OLD SLA VE. 99 

ing a hand over his capacious mouth. It was all 
that we could do to quiet him, and keep him so. 
He cried, then laughed, then prayed, and begged to 
be allowed to accompany us. We showed him how 
impossible that would be ; that the roads were 
rough, the mountains high, the rivers deep and 
wide ; that our country was far away ; that he would 
be unable to march so long a distance, and concluded 
by assuring him that the Union army would soon be 
along, and then he would be ^ free man forever, and 
protected in the fullest enjoyment of his liberties. 
This pacified him, and made him twenty years 
younger, he said. Now, anxious to do more for us, 
he invited us to accompany him to his cabin, nearly 
two miles away, where we should have all the corn- 
meal we wanted, his master that very day having 
issued him his rations for the ensuing ten days. At 
first we declined the old man's offer, not because we 
did not want his supplies, but because we were 
fearful 'of being heard or seen while proceeding 
along the highway. Our new-found friend insisting 
on our going with him, and promising to keep quiet, 
we accompanied him to within a short distance of 
his master's house, when the old slave left us and 
cut across the field to his cabin, speedily returning 
with six quarts of fresh meal. 

Again did we tender him the twenty-dollar bill, 
and again did he refuse to accept it, saying we would 
need it more than he, and he only regretted that he 
had nothing more to give to us. He told us to be 
careful of the dogs, '* in down de road dar ;" and 



lOO FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE 

thanking him for what he had done, we embraced 
him and hurried away, moving along with hghter 
hearts and more comfortable stomachs. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

A RUN FOR LIFE. 

WE had gone but a few rods beyond the man- 
sion, when out of the kennel by the road- 
side, sprang a large number of dogs, which made a 
terrible din with their yelping and barking. How 
we should escape the dogs was more than I could 
see. They sprang at us, keeping us busy, with the 
clubs we carried, in driving them back. We ran 
whenever the dogs would allow us, and before aware 
of it, were dashing pell-mell through the principal 
street of a village, which we did not observe until 
too late to effect a retreat. Windows were hastily 
raised, heads protruded, and all sorts of inquiries 
made: "What's the matter?" "What's the 
row? " Seeing our predicament, and not caring to 
answer any foolish questions, we pushed on, keeping 
in the middle of the road. -As we passed an old tav- 
ern, at the junction of several roads, we saw a squad 
of men lounging on the broad stoop, but they were 
probably too drunk to distinguish us. We sprang 
over a picket fence, a short distance from the tav- 
ern, and found ourselves in a graveyard. Secreting 
ourselves behind an old vault, - we listened atten- 



A N EXHILA RA TING BA TR. I O I 

tively, and hearing nothing, I went back to where 
we jumped over the fence, and picked up a news- 
paper I had then noticed, but which I did not stop 
for, being too much pressed for time. We remained 
in the graveyard half an hour and more, then pushed 
across several fields till we reached a heavy woods, 
where we bivouacked till daylight. 

'Tis the Sabbath — so the calendar in my diary 
marks, and without this useful little book we should 
not have been able to keep an account of the flight 
of time. The weather was lovely. Searching about, 
we found in a field near by, some corn which we 
roasted for breakfast. A bath in a clear stream of 
cold water running down from the hills, and mean- 
dering through the meadows, greatly refreshed me, 
although the pleasure of the operation would have 
been enhanced by the application of soap and a 
towel, neither of which articles, however, were in 
our possession. 

During the morning I read a chapter or two in 
a New Testament I had picked up in the east room 
of Libby prison ; then I baked bread and boiled 
mush, which, perhaps, would have been more pala- 
table with milk or syrup. Captain Lewis, at noon, 
read Christ's sermon on the mount. Todd con- 
cluded the day's devotions by reading psalms and 
hymns from an Episcopal prayer-book, which a 
prisoner gave me at Charleston. Thus did we pass 
the sacred day, until just before sunset, when we 
pursued our journey. A few miles away we came 
upon an assembly of negroes, who had gathered 



102 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

around the cabin of one of their number to engage 
in religious services. It was the singing of a wild 
hymn which first attracted our attention to them. 
Nothing could have been more picturesque than 
this swarthy and curiously costumed peasantry, dis- 
posed around the lowly cabin, with the bright, 
genial setting sun gilding their upturned faces. It 
did us good to halt (at a respectful distance) and 
listen. As the singers became excited, their bodies 
moved rhythmically, and clinging to each other's 
hands, they seemed about breaking into the favorite 
warmth of some barbaric ceremony, when we heard 
the cracked voice of a patriarchal looking slave, and 
saw the assembly kneel, and bow their heads at the 
words : " Let us 'dress the Almighty !" While the 
minister or " leader" was praying, some young dar- 
kies who had been disporting near a cotton press, 
left off their pranks, and hastened to join the kneel- 
ing throng in front of the humble cabin. As we 
moved away we could hear the solemn pleading of 
the ebony Jacob as he wrestled with the angel in 
prayer, and the nervous responses of the brethren 
and sisters when their souls took fire from the in- 
spiration of the moment. 

After marching several hours, we suddenly dis- 
covered that we were in the wrong direction. This 
caused a countermarch of five miles before regaining 
the right road, which we pursued till nearly daylight, 
when we entered a dark woods and camped upon 
the bank of a running stream of clear cold water. 
My feet were now quite sore, and my companions 



GRUMBLING BOARDERS. I05 

considerably alarmed thereat, although they con- 
stantly did what they could to cheer and comfort 
me. What I should do on reaching the mountains, 
whose faint outlines of blue could be seen far away 
in the distance, I was unable to judge. But I made 
up my mind to struggle on, although it was almost 
hoping against hope. 

Next day we found some beans, and met a negro 
boy, who gave us valuable information concerning 
the whereabouts of the rebels and the surrounding 
country. He afforded us great joy in saying that 
we were now fourteen miles from " Rock Hill," and 
that Ebenezer, a small border town in North Caro- 
lina, was but three miles distant. This was encour- 
aging news, for we felt that on reaching the " Old 
North State" we should find friends. We tramped 
along with buoyant hearts and active feet many 
miles, and failing to find Ebenezer, concluded the 
darkey had hoaxed us, so we entered a wood and 
threw our wearied bodies upon the ground, and 
slept. 

On awaking we were scarcely able to rise from 
our recumbent position, so stiff were our joints. My 
feet pained me sorely, and for a time I was afraid 
that I would be unable to proceed farther. I baked 
beans again, and divided them equally, but notwith- 
standing this, my boarders grumbled a good deal at 
the quantity served. 

Starting before sunset, we marched eight miles 
before the waning moon appeared, when we made 
considerable additional progress. We crossed the 



I06 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

railroad eight miles south of Ebenezer, and thanked 
Providence that at last we were within a few miles 
of North Carolina, which we expected to traverse 
with far less apprehension and danger than had been 
the case in South Carolina. After crossing the track 
— the same we had ridden over six months pre- 
viously — we entertained the idea of tearing up a rail 
or two, or failing in this, to place obstructions thereon. 
We felt wicked enough to do almost anything, but 
better judgment finally prevailed, and we concluded 
not to touch the track, as the first train which came 
along might be filled with our prisoners of war. 
We would have taken some risk in destroying 
the bridge over the Catawba, but the weakness of 
our condition prevented any great exertion. We 
marched as rapidly as possible after this, and at day- 
break came upon a negro, who was badly frightened 
in consequence. When he saw that we did not 
intend to molest him, he talked quite freely, and 
starting off, soon returned bearing a bag containing 
a peck of corn-meal and some potatoes, for which 
we paid him three dollars — all the small change in 
our possession. 

Again did we seek the dark recesses of a wood, 
where we quietly remained till sunset, when we re- 
sumed our tramp, marching some fourteen miles 
before daybreak. The weather being quite cold, 
compelled us to build a fire, around which we warmed 
ourselves, meantime preparing our morning repast. 
The sky suddenly becoming overcast with heavy- 
colored clouds, rendered our situation dreary enough. 



IN THE OLD NORTH ST A TE AT LAST. 10/ 

Looking about, we were delighted at finding grapes, 
hanging in clusters, under the bank of the brook. 
We feasted on the grapes as long as they lasted, and 
were sorry when no more could be obtained. 

During the forenoon Lewis hit upon a happy 
expedient for baking bread. We waded in a stream 
of water — a disagreeable job — and fishing out a large 
thin flat stone, carried it to the shore, where it was 
placed over a hole which we managed to excavate. 
Starting a good fire in the hole, the stone at length 
became sufficiently heated to answer the purposes 
intended, when the meal, moistened with water and 
formed into cakes, was placed thereon. The cakes 
browned nicely, causing general congratulations. 
We thus baked up all the meal left — the task occu- 
pying a much briefer time than if we had followed 
the old plan — standing the cakes upon edge in front 
of the fire, which was not always a pleasant or satis- 
factory operation. Todd's little flag floated over 
camp " Sparta," from a hanging, limb until we took 
our departure, which was at the hour of " retreat." 



CHAPTER XVin. 

IN THE OLD NORTH STATE AT LAST. 

WE had gone but a short distance when we met 
a negro, who imparted the pleasing intelli- 
gence that we were now in North Carolina — " and a 
\vays in too, mass'r." He supplied us with two 



I08 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

pecks of meal and a small quantity of coarse salt, 
and directed us as to the best route to take, when 
we again struck out, marching about thirteen miles 
— a halt being rendered necessary by the soreness 
of my feet. Both were badly lacerated, and I feared 
that my days for walking were over. My comrades 
assuring me that they would never desert me, im- 
parted new life and hope. 

The weather to-day is lovely, but our bivouac 
neither safe or convenient. We hear horsemen gal- 
loping up and down on a road near by, and sounds 
of revelry, which, as we subsequently learned, were 
caused by a party who had assembled to witness a 
race between horses belonging to different com- 
mands. We did not attend, much as we would have 
been interested in the sports. The proximity of the 
rebels prevented us from having a fire, and as the 
woods were quite open we dared not attempt to 
leave them, for fear of being discovered. We were 
half starved by sundown, notwithstanding we had 
eaten raw potatoes and washed down the dry meal 
with water, in which there did not appear to be 
much satisfaction, to say the least. 

Marching along on a smooth road after dark, with 
but little to occupy our thoughts, and not dreaming 
of near danger, we were terrified, almost paralyzed, 
at hearing the dread challenge, " Who comes 
there ?" and suiting the action to the words, a 
horseman dashed rapidly towards us. It was, how- 
ever, but the work of a moment to spring into the 
woods, which lined both sides of the roadway, and in 



A RUN FOR LIFE. IO9 

another instant we were running through what we 
discovered to be a heavy copse. That we were in a 
sadly demoralized condition I will not attempt to 
deny, but we retained sufficient presence of mind to 
act together, and as subsequent events proved, in a 
wise and judicious manner. Exhausted by the run, 
our hands and faces lacerated and bleeding, by com- 
ing; in contact with bushes, briars and other obstruc- 
tions, we threw our tired bodies upon the earth to 
recover breath and to await developments. Matters 
developed sooner than we anticipated, for we shortly 
afterwards heard horsemen riding slowly by. Anew 
fear came upon us. Instead of being in the heart 
of a dense woods, as we had imagined, we were but 
a few yards from the highway. The cavalrymen, as 
they passed by, laughed and joked about *' scaring 

the niggers," which explained the situation to 

us. The cavalry had mistaken us for slaves, none 
of whom were allowed, by law, to be away from 
their cabins after nine o'clock P. M. 

Breathing freer, we gave the horsemen ample time 
to ride away — then set out on our journey. A deep 
running stream, however, compelled us to make a 
wide detour, and on crossing, which was accom- 
plished with great difficulty and some danger, we 
found ourselves near the road leading to Dallas, the 
county seat. It was now near midnight, an hour 
when honest folks are commonly supposed to be in 
bed, so we apprehended but little danger. By and 
by, we heard a colored woman singing with all the 
force of her lungs, and listening attentively, we be- 



no FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

came convinced that she was approaching us. Step- 
ping behind some thick bushes along the road-side, 
we awaited her coming. She continued singing 
the peculiar melodies heard on the plantations all 
through the South. As she drew near we heard her 
talking, and soon ascertained that a man was her 
only companion. Of course we immediately de- 
cided the man was, like herself, a slave, whether her 
husband or lover, father or brother, we did not care. 
But he must be a black majt, at all events, for no 
white man would be rambling in that sort of way 
at the dead hour of night, with a black woman for 
company. 

It was now very dark, nothing being visible ex- 
cept the tall tree-tops, above which was a streak of 
gray. Doubting nothing but believing everything, 
when the couple reached the spot directly opposite 
where we stood, we boldly confronted and challenged 
them. With a wild, unearthly scream, the female 
took to her heels, while the man who was her com- 
panion, sprang back to the opposite side of the 
road, and cocking a revolver, demanded to know 
who we were and what we wanted. We begged him 
not to shoot, and then necessarily resorted to con- 
versational strategy, putting and answering ques- 
tions with the utmost wariness, the revolver, whose 
sharp click we had heard, making us studiously 
polite. But, thanks to a kind Providence, it did not 
take a long time for us to discover the status of the 
stranger, and probably he had never been embraced 
before with the vehement warmth we displayed 



A TRUE HERO, III 

when we learned that he was a loyalist — a Union 
man. He told us this, and we believed him. At his 
urgent invitation we accompanied him to his home, 
passing through the woods the entire distance, nearly 
two miles. Telling his wife our story, she soon pre- 
pared for us a smoking supper, to which we did am- 
ple justice, the rich repast being seasoned with smiles 
and kindly sympathizing words. That night, sitting 
before the cheerful blaze on his great hearth, he told 
us the story of North Carolina mountain loyalty, 
proving to us that freedom still had brave defenders 
among the hardy forest-men of the old North State. 
He told us of the cruel persecutions to which Union 
men, in his section of country, had been subjected 
by the Confederate authorities, but that, notwith- 
standing their tribulations, they had remained faith- 
ful to their principles. He belonged, he said, to a 
society called " The True Heroes of America," a sort 
of Union League, whose chief object was to keep 
Unionists out of the Confederate army. Thousands 
of good and true men were members of this order. 
" And we mean to stand to the work," he added, 
•' until this cursed rebellion is wiped out as clean as 
that hearth. The old government is good enough 
for us and for our children." 

It did us good to hear that patriot talk. His 
sentiments had the right ring, and his voice no un- 
certain sound. His noble wife expressed much sym- 
pathy for me and regretted that she had no shoes to 
give me. Captain Todd, before leaving, presented 
her with a large seal ring, a gift from his mother, 



112 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

while Lewis gave our host his gold sleeve-buttons — 
I adding my Russia leather pocket-book, which he 
regarded as a great curiosity, never before having 

seen anything like it. Mr. W said he would like 

to accompany us, but he could not undertake so 
great a journey with his family, who would not be 
able to endure the fatigues and exposures of a tramp 
over the mountains. 

Mrs. W. having, meanwhile, filled our haversacks 
with bread, flour, biscuits, onions, potatoes, etc., we 
returned her our hearty thanks, and kissing the baby 
in the cradle, marched away, her husband acting as 
guide. When daybreak dawned, we found ourselves 
some distance beyond the town of Dallas, which we 
had successfully flanked, and bidding our friend 
" good-bye," we continued on our way ; but often 
afterwards did our thoughts revert to him and his, 
and many were our prayers that Heaven would guard 
and keep them safe in that home, sheltered by the 
pines they loved so well. 

McKinney's Gap, now our immediate objective 
point, was seventy-four miles distant in a northerly 
direction. After marching thirteen miles, without a 
single halt, we stopped for rest, as well as to cook 
a few potatoes, which, being very heavy, we thought 
it advisable to dispose of first. 



A SEASON OF GREA T DISTRESS 1 1 3 

CHAPTER XIX. 

A SEASON OF GREAT DISTRESS. 

THE weather was so cold this night that we 
found it impossible to sleep, although we had 
built a small fire, but fearing observation, we dared 
not increase its cheerfulness. After dinner, how- 
ever, finding our position to be one of danger, owing 
to the sparsity of cover, and as water was incon- 
venient, we moved to another place, half a mile 
away, where better security would be afforded. 
Here we lighted another fire, by means of a brand 
brought from the previous camp. This we did be- 
cause our stock of matches had become greatly re- 
iuced, and knowing we would not have enough to 
last us through our journey, it behooved us to be 
very careful in their use, and economize in every 
possible way. After baking bread we again took 
up the line of march, munching as we proceeded 
along. During the following night, we passed under 
the railroad, near Lincolnton, bright lights from the 
town being visible. We made another blunder, by 
seeking to evade a squad of men, and marched 
several miles out of our course in doing so. On the 
appearance of daylight, we found a woods admirably 
adapted to our purposes, and went into bivouac, 
pretty well used up by the excessive fatigue, and 
benumbed with cold. On searching about we were 
overjoyed in finding some corn still standing on a 



1 14 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

low spot of ground, the ears being quite green. 
The ground was white with a hoary frost, the night 
the coldest we had experienced. Building a fire, 
we threw ourselves beside it, and slept for several 
hours. On awakening, I found myself unable to 
rise to my feet, having an acute attack of rheuma- 
tism in my left leg. But after a great deal, of rub- 
bing by Todd, I was enabled to stand, and soon 
after to hobble about. It was here that we lost the 

knife which Mr. W had given us, and which we 

had found invaluable. 

Confident that we shall be able to reach the 
Union lines, we march buoyantly along till day- 
break on the following morning, accomplishing a 
distance of some twenty odd miles. We were now 
within a i^\N miles of Morganton, where all North 
Carolina conscripts went into rendezvous. We 
dreaded this place, which was in the direct line of 
our march, and felt that if we could safely flank and 
pass it, we should be comparatively safe. We had, 
however, grave apprehensions concerning our ability 
to do this. To add to the terrors of our party, my 
rheumatism returned with double force, and for sev- 
eral hours, all feared that I would be unable to pro- 
ceed. I could not sleep, so intense was my suffer- 
ing, but kept swinging my arms to cause a circula- 
tion of the blood. We were compelled to remain 
in camp all day, owing to my inability to walk, but 
just at sunset we again started, and as I got warmed 
to the work, the pain and stiffness disappeared, ena- 
bling us to move quite rapidly. 



A WRETCHED FAMILY. II5 

We were now again without anything to eat, 
but practicing Micawber's philosophy, we patiently 
awaited for '* something to turn up." Seeing a 
light in a wood, near the roadway, we approached 
it, and as it proceeded from a hovel, we ventured 
to knock at the rude door. Entering, we found it 
occupied by a white man, his distressed wife and 
sickly-looking child — the trio presenting a pitiful 
spectacle, having scarcely enough apparel to cover 
their emaciated forms. They were destitute of 
everything that makes life desirable, except a cheer- 
ful fire, before which we sat and warmed ourselves. 
The man, entering into conversation, told us the old 
story — he had always been true to the '* old flag," 
saying the war had ruined the Southern people, and 
that they would never be able to recover from its 
blasting effects. What little property he had been 
able to accumulate by a life of toil, was long ago 
stripped from him by the " levying officers," who, 
charging him with being a '' traitor," had taken his 
horses and cattle, '' without as much as a simple 
thank ye." He deeply regretted his inability to aid 
us, but gave us the names of many men along our 
probable route who would be happy to lend a help- 
ing hand. 

After leaving the humble habitation of that un- 
fortunate man, I felt that we were not the only un- 
fortunates in the world, and this thought nerved me 
to renewed efforts. We continued our tramp sev- 
eral hours, until we became so cold that we could 
proceed no farther, when we halted and built a fire, 



I l6 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

which was the only cheerful thing we could find or 
devise. 

Daylight, however, found us walking northward, 
each sharply watching for something to satisfy our 
cravings for food. Discovering a log-house in the 
woods, we determined to visit it and obtain food, 
for we were upon the verge of starvation, and men 
will do almost anything while in that condition. 
Entering the abode without previous notice to that 
effect, we were surprised to find the- *' lord " at 
home. He was so much surprised at our sudden 
appearance, that he actually, in stepping backwards, 
fell into a chair. Finding a quantity of potatoes on 
the rude table, we pitched them in the ashes on the 
hearth and roasted them — the family meanwhile 
remaining quiet, and acting as if we had taken un- 
warranted liberties. We informed the man, in order 
to allay any suspicions he might have, that we had 
deserted from Hood's army in Georgia, and that, 
tired of the war, we were now on our way to Ken- 
tucky, where our people lived. The man, pleased 
with the statement, now bustled about, and procur- 
ing six quarts of meal, insisted upon our accepting 
it. We declined at first, believing that his family 
needed it quite as much as we did, but he was so 
importunate and ourselves so hungry, we consented 
to accept it ; and after thanking the family for their 
hospitality, we departed, hastening away with all the 
speed possible, for we did not altogether like the ac- 
tions of the man, who might take it into his head 
to alarm his neighbors, and so get us into trouble. 



ANGELS IN DISGUISE. 11/ 



CHAPTER XX. 

OUR BEST FRIEND A CONFEDERATE BRIGADIER. 

TO-DAY we reached and climbed over the first 
hill, or mountain, and on descending met 
a white woman, who was so much frightened on 
seeing us, that it was some time before she would 
answer our questions or enter into conversation. 
She finally told us that her husband was in the 
hospital at Petersburg. Assuring her that we had 
recently deserted from Petersburg for the purpose 
of seeing our families, who lived near Lenoir, she 
expressed her sympathy, and a wish that her 
*' Peter " would soon be able to do the same thing. 
Upon a pressing invitation, we accompanied her to 
her humble home, where she speedily prepared us a 
good breakfast, giving us an abundance of rich, 
sweet milk to drink. On departing, the good 
woman supplied us with a peck of potatoes and all 
the meal in the house, for which we sincerely thanked 
her. Evidently she had no idea that she had been 
entertaining "angels in disguise!" 

We had gone but a short distance when we met 

a man who charged us with being " Yankees." 

He said, however, that we need not fear him, as he 
had lost all interest in the war — three of his sons 
having been killed, and one dying of fever at Fort 
Delaware. We could proceed on our way, he added, 
without any objection on his part. Glad to get away 



1 1 8 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

from this fellow, the moment we were out of his 
sight we ran a long distance, fearing pursuit. Here- 
after we must be more careful, and not act on the 
hypothesis that every person we meet is devoted 
to the Union, even though he is a North Caro- 
linian. 

Towards noon we struck and hastily crossed the 
railroad, moving between Salisbury and Morgan- 
town, about four miles north of the latter place. 
Proceeding cautiously, we soon after entered a pine 
woods, which, at first sight, appeared to be quite 
dense, but the farther we went, the '' lighter" did 
they appear. Moving along in "■ Indian file," care- 
ful of our steps, lest the sudden snapping of a dry 
stick should give an alarm, we were thrown into 
a state of intense excitement on beholding, a few 
yards away, an officer superbly mounted on a mag- 
nificent horse. A single glance revealed our danger. 
My breath failed, while my knees trembled like as- 
pens. The horseman kept his piercing black eyes 
upon us, gently guiding the animal he bestrode 
towards us. Escape was now impossible — not to be 
thought of. As he reached the spot where we had 
instinctively halted on first seeing him, a smile 
seemed to play upon his handsome face. Todd, 
who acted as spokesman, asked him the way to Mor- 
gantown — the very place of all others we had no in- 
clination to visit. The horseman looked sharply at 
each of us in turn, but deigned no reply, and Todd, 
thinking that he might have misunderstood him, 
repeated the question, whereupon he laughed heart- 



OUR BEST FRIEND. II9 

ily, which convinced us that we could not hope to 
deceive him — that our last game had been played. 

Determined, however, to play every card, Todd 
asked the horseman (whom we had by this time 
discovered by the insignia on his coat collar to be 
di gejicral), for a '' chaw terbacker." Without saying 
a word, he reached down into one of his saddle- 
bags, and pulled therefrom a long plug, which he 
handed down to me. Breaking it in two pieces, I 
gave Todd one piece, placing the other in my shirt 
bosom, the pockets in my breeches having long 
since given out. The horseman smiled again, and 

broke the silence by saying, *' That's cool, any 

way." Spurring his horse sharply around, he looked 
squarely at us, and said : " You fellows do not want 
to go to Morgantown, but if you do, that's the 
way," pointing in the right direction, and then, 
striking his horse's flanks with his steel spurs, he 
galloped away. We knew not what to do — if he 
had gone for troops, we could not hope to elude or 
distance them. The Catawba river, whose loud 
roaring could now be distinctly heard, was in our 
front, but a mile or two away. And yet, if the 
general meant us harm, why did he not hold us 
where we stood ? In his holsters we saw the bright 
butts of heavy revolvers, while suspended at his side 
was a beautiful bright sabre. I cannot portray the 
thoughts which coursed through my mind. 

While profoundly agitated by the perils which 
environed us, we heard hoofs rapidly approaching, 
and looking up, observed the same officer riding 



120 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

furiously towards us, and beckoning for us to ap- 
proach. At a total loss to know what he meant, 
we did as requested, and on gaining his side, noticed 
that he was terribly excited. His voice was now 
husky, his whole manner at variance with what it had 
been but a few minutes previous. He spoke quickly, 
looking back every moment or two, as if he expected 
to see some one approaching from the direction he 
had just come. He said : " Boys, you cannot deceive 
me. I have seen too much service in Virginia to 
be fooled by any of your kind. But I will befriend 
you. Could I take you to my home, two miles 
away, I would give you all the bread you could eat, 
and all the brandy you could drink." 

We, meanwhile, stood dumbfounded, our hearts 
going out to that Confederate soldier, whose love 
for us we could not fathom. Not a word which he 
uttered was lost ; and never shall I forget his looks, 
as he leaned over his saddle-bow to speak encour- 
agingly to men who a {^ssf moments before had been 
considered deadly enemies. Bending low, he con- 
tinued : *' You want to reach the mountains yonder, 
this you need not tell me. You must hasten away 
from here, for in a few minutes two of my regiments 
will pass along this road, on their way to the rail- 
road, near where I saw you cross the track, to take 
the cars for Richmond. You must lose no time in 
getting away from this vicinity." Here he rose in 
his stirrups and, looking back, listened attentively 
for a moment. " You see that mound ; keep that in 
your front, and get to its base as soon as God will 



i 



A DEADLY ENEMY. 121 

let you — it is on the right bank of the Catawba 
river, which, of course, you will be compelled to 
cross. You will find a scow near by, in which you 
can effect a crossing, when you will be compara- 
tively safe. You have my hearty wishes for success. 
Run !" 

Almost before we could comprehend the fact, 
the Confederate general was gone — passing entirely 
out of sight ere we could realize that we were still 
at liberty. He said " run," and this command be- 
ing indelibly impressed upon our minds, we hastened 
to comply. Run ! I never run faster than on that 
occasion, and perhaps never acted more carelessly. 
In carefully keeping the mound within sight, we 
paid but little attention to surrounding objects. 
We now plainly heard the waters rushing over the 
rocks in the roaring river, and almost imagined our- 
selves safe across a noble stream, whose fountain- 
head is among majestic mountains. While hurry- 
ing along, we narrowly escaped an adventure which 
might have proven less pleasant than the one I have 
just related. A couple of hundred yards away, we 
saw a mounted soldier, riding slowly in a diagonal 
direction, and bearing away to our right. It was 
but the work of an instant for us to drop upon the 
ground directly behind a large fallen tree, which for- 
tunately we had just reached. From this covert 
we closely watched the movements of the cavalry- 
man, or whatever he may have been, and while thus 
engaged were almost paralyzed with fear at the 
sight of a huge moccasin snake, of the most poison- 



122 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

ous Species, which leisurely crawled out from the 
tree and wriggled its disgusting form away, much to 
our satisfaction, for we had no desire to engage it in 
battle at that particular moment. On looking again 
for the horseman, we failed to discover him, and after 
a few minutes further delay, sprang up and proceeded 
towards the river, which we were anxious to cross 
before nightfall. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

CROSSING THE CATAWBA RIVER — A DIFFICULT 

TASK. 

IT was about two o'clock in the afternoon when 
we reached the Catawba. Standing on the 
mound we saw the turbulent river flowing at its base, 
seventy-five feet below, its broad current dashing 
into breakers and foam-flakes, as it beat against the 
rocks in the channel-bed. We could see swirls and 
eddies around the masses of driftwood washed down 
from the mountain sides; now deep and black, the 
majestic river flows in a strong, steady current, be- 
side banks where the trees are grouped in beauti- 
ful forms, creating foregrounds over which the 
artist's eye lovingly lingers. We could hear the 
voice of the river crying among the cliffs, and moan- 
ing and sighing as it laps the banks in the gorges 
above and below us. We were entranced with the 
spectacle presented, and strongly moved with this our 



A RAFT IMPROVISED. 1 23 

first gaze upon the grand river and the glorious Blue 
Ridge range which loomed up so proudly before us. 

At length, descending the bluff upon which we 
had been reverently but idly standing, into a small 
valley below, we found a number of apple-trees, still 
containing fruit, to which we helped ourselves, 
filling our haversacks with choice specimens. On 
the opposite side of the riv,er, the land was low and 
level, houses being noticeable here and there. Giv- 
ing ourselves no uneasiness about these distant hab- 
itations, or their occupants, we acted as inclination 
led us — deeming it perfectly safe to do so. We 
next discussed the boat question, and looked up and 
down the bank, but could discover none. This 
puzzled and disappointed us. We had not dreamed 
of any impediment in crossing the river after receiv- 
ing explicit directions from our Confederate friend. 
Night was fast creeping on, and feeling it to be an 
imperative duty to cross over before dark, we set 
to work constructing a raft, obtaining the materials 
from a neighboring fence. It was only when we had 
nearly completed it, that we saw the utter impossi- 
bility of launching it in a successful manner. Should 
we succeed in getting it into the seething waters, we 
could not hope to push the ponderous and unwieldly 
raft across the stream, as the irresistible current 
would speedily carry it into the wild chaos of the 
dashing and leaping stream, and drown us in the 
mysterious eddies a hundred yards below. 

Night's shadows were fast creeping over the 
mighty Appalachian range as we hastened to the 



124 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

summit of a hill a few hundred yards below the point 
where we first reached the river. This we did in 
order to obtain a better place for observation. 
While scanning the banks for a boat, we were 
greatly surprised to notice three men and a boy 
hastily leaving a house on the opposite side of the 
river; they walked hurriedly across the fields, head- 
ing directly for the river — towards us. As they 
drew quite near, we also noticed that each man car- 
ried a gun. This caused us considerable uneasiness, 
and now, for the first time, we saw how unwisely we 
had acted while getting the apples and in building 
the raft. There was no doubt in our minds but that 
the party on the other side had seen us on our ar- 
rival, and, had during the interim, been preparing to 
** hunt us." We '' laid low,** and congratulated our- 
selves upon the near approach of darkness, which 
would aid us in making a retreat. In due time the 
party reached the river bank, and before we could 
divine their further intentions, we saw them rowing 
quickly across in a heretofore undiscovered boat, 
which had lain moored to the shore under heavy 
overhanging bushes. We crept to the brow of the 
hill, and saw three of them spring ashore^ some two 
hundred yards below. It was now dusk, but we 
could see their every movement distinctly. The 
three men walked hastily through a corn-field, jump- 
ing over a fence which stood in their way, and 
moved silently along at the base of the hill occupied 
by us — thence up a ravine to our right and rear, and 
were soon lost to sight and hearing. 



DECOYED BY A BELL, 12$ 

It was suggested that our best plan would now 
be to go down, seize the boat and cross the river, 
but this was for a time strongly objected to by a 
majority of our party. My companions were satis- 
fied that the boy (whom we had not seen since the 
boat landed) had been left behind to guard the craft, 
and that if we advanced he would be certain to fire 
upon us, and thus create an alarm, resulting in our 
capture or death. Finally, Todd coincided with my 
views, and springing to his feet, said he would at- 
tempt the enterprise, Lewis and Grant immedi- 
ately following suit. Descending the hill in a cau- 
tious manner, we proceeded along the bank listening 
for the slightest sound, and searching intently for 
the boat or boy — or both. We travelled a long dis- 
tance down the river — far beyond the place where 
the boat had appeared to touch this shore, but saw 
nothing of it. We retraced our steps, peering under 
each overhanging bush which lined the bank, until 
we reached the base of the hill again — then back we 
went ; still we saw nothing of the boat. There was 
a mystery connected with this matter, and neither 
of us felt like giving it up. It must be unravelled 
if it took all night, we decided. Returning the 
second time, we plainly heard the tinkle of a cow- 
bell in the adjoining field. The cow appeared to be 
walking in our direction, and this gave us an impulse 
to secure and milk her. With this object in view, 
we advanced towards her. We had taken but a few 
steps, however, when we became alarmed — satisfied 
that the bell was in the hands of a human being, 



126 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

who was using it as a means of decoy. I had known 
this dodge to be practised by the rebels, in surpris- 
ing our piquets in Virginia, in the early part of i86i. 

Halting in the corn-field to listen, we heard a 
party of men jump over the fence before alluded to 
— the bell being unduly excited and ringing quite 
fiercely in executing the movement. This sudden 
and unexpected state of affairs compelled us not to 
stand upon the order of our going, but \.o go at once. 
Bending our heads and bodies quite low we ran as 
fast and as silently as was possible down the river's 
bank, and finally inclined to the right, where we 
hoped to be able to secrete ourselves in the heavy 
woods. We expected to be fired upon, but for some 
unknown reason, the rebs failed to act in time, and 
we gained the woods in safety. They were either 
unprepared for the suddenness of our action, or they 
failed to hear us in our flight. We never stopped 
till we found a place which we thought would an- 
swer our purposes — that was a deep ravine, running 
parallel with the river, which we regarded as offer- 
ing us a safe retreat. 

We tried to sleep without a fire, but finding this 
impossible, owing to a heavy frost, built a small 
blaze with dry chips, and lay down and soundly 
slept, despite the dangers which surrounded us. 
At about two o'clock in the morning, feeling very 
cold, and having occasion to arise, I placed some 
fresh fuel on the slumbering embers, walked some 
twenty feet away, and directly afterwards Todd and 
Grant followed. While they were conversing in a 



A NARROW ESCAPE. 1 29 

low tone, my attention was attracted to a moving 
object just beyond the fire, which was now burning 
quite brightly, and within a few feet of where Lewis 
unconsciously lay sleeping. I distinctly heard the 
crackling of dry twigs, as if made by some one walk- 
ing upon them, and in a moment more saw the eyes 
of several fierce-looking men glaring into and about 
the fire. I was satisfied that we had again been dis- 
covered. What to do, or how to act I did not know. 
Had Lewis been with us, we could, by a bold dash, 
have got away, but none of us thought of retreat- 
ing, leaving him in the hands of cruel tormentors. 
Noiselessly reaching Todd and Grant, I whispered 
to them the fact of my discovery, whereupon we 
all three returned to the fire and again lay down, 
acting as if dreaming of no danger, present or pro- 
spective. Our enemies, doubtless imagining that 
our capture would be easier and more certain if they 
allowed us to go to sleep, remained perfectly passive, 
for which we were devoutly thankful. We seized 
our haversacks, pinched Lewis, who instantly awoke, 
sprang up and ran back into the woods, seemingly 
in a great deal less time than I have taken to relate 
it. Anticipating a volley of shot or bullets, we ran 
along, keeping as close to the ground as possible. 
Each particular hair stood erect upon my head, 
while beads of cold sweat rolled down my back, 
until I felt that we were again out of harm's way. 
I am of opinion that I was very much frightened 
when we dashed away from the party in the ravine, 
and I made up my mind that if they succeeded in 



r30 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

again coming up with us, they would not take any 
risks, but shoot us at first sight — not a very comfort- 
able reflection certainly, for a young fellow who was 
anxious, above all other things, to reach his home. 

We did not try any more experiments with fire 
that night, although after halting we became very 
cold. We were allowed to pass the remainder of 
the night in peace and quiet, and when the sun rose 
were again on the way, laboring to reach the river 
above the point we struck it the previous day. 
Reaching a wide open field we viewed its beauties 
from behind a fence. Away to our right, a mile and 
more distant, we saw a small frame house, in front 
of which stood a crowd of men, doubtless the party 
who had put us to so much trouble during the night. 
We could see no way of crossing that field without 
being detected, but soon after finding a ditch run- 
ning to the opposite side, we got into it, and crawled 
over, occasionally stopping and taking a peep at our 
friends, who still remained near the house. Making 
a wide detour, we regained the river about noon, 
reaching it at a point two miles above where we 
struck it twenty-two hours previously. As good 
luck would have it, we discovered apples, grapes, 
persimmons, and a large red berry, of a savory taste, 
upon which we feasted to our heart's content. 

We stood just within the woods, for the rugged 
valley road which ran along its skirts might be dan- 
gerous, and gazed down into the low valley, in the 
centre of which rolled the mighty mountain flood. 
Mountains of every imaginable shape rose in gran- 



SAVED BY A DOG. I3I 

deur far beyond, while the forest seemed delicate 
fringes of purple and gold. We could readily trace 
the massive and curiously curving ranges of the 
Alleghanies, and longed to ascend them. The open 
space intervening between the road and the Catawba, 
was covered with a tall and heavy-looking grass or 
weed, which would admirably cover our movements, 
for we had determined upon crawling through it to 
the water's edge, hoping on arriving there to find a 
boat near by. Several houses were within sight 
upon both banks, and it was quite probable that 
some of the farmers possessed a craft which would 
answer our purposes. 

It was finally deemed advisable that but one of 
our party should go down, and this important duty 
Todd .volunteered to perform. He had scarcely 
reached the roadside when he heard, as we also did, 
the barking of a dog. With his usual instinct, Todd 
sprang back into the woods, thick with laurel 
bushes, and it was well that he did so, for the next 
moment a large covered wagon, filled with men, and 
drawn by two horses, went dashing by ; this party 
had evidently been summoned to join in the hunt 
for us. The men commenced singing just as the 
dog barked at Todd, and to this, perhaps, were we 
indebted for miraculous preservation on this occa- 
sion. Feeling that no time was to be lost if we 
would cross the river, Todd ran across the road, 
sprang over the fence and prostrated himself in the 
tall grass, and although we kept our eyes upon the 
spot and in the same line to the river, yet we failed to 



132 



FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 



see anything of him until he reached the bank, when 
he made a signal to us. Satisfied that no danger 
lurked near the roadway, we crossed over, and fol- 
lowing Todd's tactics, crawled all the way to the 
river, where we rejoined our brave comrade, whom we 
found in conversation with an old woman in her gar- 
den on the opposite bank, engaged in picking beans. 
Todd imposed upon the good nature of this dear 
old soul, by telling her that the war was over, and 
inquiring where the boat was. She asked him if her 
** John" was *' all right," and when Todd informed 
her that " John" would be "along in an hour or so," 
she threw down her pail and advanced so near the 
bank that I was afraid she would lose her balance 
and fall into the water. " Why," asked she, " don't 
you take the ferry boat ?" *' It ain't at the ferry," 
replied Todd. "Yes, it is," she insisted, looking 
up the river, " I can see it now." 

Todd then left us, and made his way up the 
stream, keeping as close to the water as was consis- 
tent with safety, until he reached the " ferry." We 
heard him pounding the chain, which we knew he 
must be endeavoring to break, and in a minute or 
so afterwards, heard splashes in the water, which 
convinced us that he had succeeded, and that if no 
accident occurred, we should soon set our feet upon 
Canaan's happy shore. 

In the meantime we had clambered out among 
the branches of a low tree which overhung the water, 
where we awaited the coming of the " ferry-boat," 
ijow guided by our gallant comrade. Directly we 



i 



THE CATAWBA CROSSED. 133 

see the craft floating along — her sides rubbing 
against the bushes — and on reaching our station, 
we drop upon her capacious bottom. Heading the 
heavy and unwieldy craft towards the opposite shore, 
we shove it away, and by the aid of long poles, suc- 
ceed, at last, in reaching the desired haven. Spring- 
ing upon the shore, we stand for a minute or two 
and see the old boat turn round and rapidly descend 
with the fierce current, and shortly afterwards dash 
over and disappear in the wild waters under the falls 
— a hundred yards below where we crossed. It was 
the culmination — the finishing stroke of our varied 
enterprises, the end of our present troubles. 

That we may not be considered ungrateful, I will 
add that we paid the old woman a visit, picked a 
peck or so of beans, which we carried away with us, 
then departed — leaving the old lady not in very 
good humor, as I judged by her actions towards us. 



CHAPTER XXn. 

A WRETCHED FAMILY. 

WE tramped briskly along until dark, when we 
camped for the night. The sky was overcast 
with dense black clouds, and before the next morn- 
ing broke it rained very hard, causing us consider- 
able difficulty in keeping a fire. On the following 
day no sun appeared, and as we could obtain no cer- 
tain point of direction, there was no alternative ex- 
cept to remain quiet. Towards noon, however, we 



134 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

concluded to make an effort and again started, guid- 
ing ourselves by the bark of trees, whose roughness 
always appears on the north-east side. In conse- 
quence, we made but little headway. During the 
afternoon we discovered a cabin in the wilderness^ 
and reconnoitring, found it occupied by a wretched- 
looking white woman and half a dozen children, all 
clothed in rags, scarcely sufficient to cover their 
nakedness. The poor woman, whose chief posses- 
sions were her rags and wretchedness, had one solace^ 
that was the snuff she continually rubbed on her 
teeth with a well-worn stick. She said she could not 
aid us in any way, as she was destitute of everything 
that made life desirable. Her husband, she said, 
was a ''home-guard," doing duty on the mountains, 
searching for " deserters." I felt sorry for myself, 
but it pained me to see that miserable family who 
were far more wretched. Could it be that her hus- 
band had his heart in the rebellion ? 

The rain continued to fall steadily ; the roads 
being flooded, rendered our march very disagreeable 
and fatiguing. After dark, seeing a light in a small 
house near a road about four miles from Lewis, we 
knocked and were invited to enter. Within, we 
found, seated before a blazing fire, an old man, his 
wife and a married daughter — the latter eyeing us 
suspiciously from the moment of our entrance. We 
told them that we had deserted from Morgantown, 
and were now on our way to our homes in Wau- 
tauga county. This induced the daughter to give 
vent to her pent-up feelings, and she " exploded " 



A GRIEF-STRICKEN IVOMAN, 135 

forthwith. She denounced the war and all connected 
with it. Her husband had been killed at Gettysburg, 
while five of her brothers had died on various battle- 
fields ; then the poor woman wept as if her heart 
would break. We did not disturb her in her grief. 
Wiping her inflamed eyes with the skirt of her 
coarse dress, she hoped we would pardon her in- 
firmity, but whenever she thought of her dead she 
had to "■ give way." We told her that the men who 
caused the war had taken good care to keep out of 
danger, and that the contest could not be continued 
much longer. In reply, she said she hoped it would 
soon be over, for she could not live any longer in 
that location. At the first opportunity she would 
go to Reading, Pennsylvania, where a sister lived 
very happily. Believing it to be perfectly safe, we 
threw off all disguise, and told the family that we 
were Yankee officers, escaping from prison ; that we 
had marched all the way from Charleston, South 
Carolina, and as we were very hungry, we would 
thank them for something to eat. Our statement 
had an astonishing effect, for in a moment the young 
woman was bestirring herself preparing us a supper, 
which we enjoyed greatly. While thus engaged the 
conversation took a pleasant turn — the daughter es- 
pecially being pleased to gain information about the 
North. Just before departing we tendered her the 
only twenty-dollar bill in our possession, but she 
refused to accept it, saying we needed it more than 
she did. We bade the family *' good-bye," and went 
out into the storm, leaving the note on the table. 



136 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

THE ELEMENTS AT WORK. 

BUT what cared we for wind and rain and mud? 
We were about to enter upon that vast elevat- 
ed region which forms the southern division of the 
Appalachian mountain system, and constitutes the 
culminating point in the Atlantic barrier of the 
American continent. We were at the gate of the 
lands through which runs the chain of the Roan, 
Bald, and Great Smoky Mountains, separating West- 
ern North Carolina from Eastern Tennessee. Mean- 
while the storm increased in violence ; the thunder 
broke along the luminous sky, and the lightning 
seemed to rend it in twain. It was mighty and 
beautiful ; a strange, rushing wind came with it, 
bending the trees as though they were saplings. 
We were mute and frightened before the terrific 
grandeur of the warring elements. 

Regarding the road as somewhat dangerous, the 
night being intensely dark, and fearing stragglers, we 
took to the fields, making but little progress, how- 
ever. We stumbled over fallen trees, ran against 
fences, and fell into water-filled ditches. What 
to do or where to go we had no idea. While 
standing against a fence, we saw, during a vivid 
flash of lightning, but a few yards away, a small log- 
house. Not a light was anywhere visible, and not a 
sound, save the rushing of the wind, could be heard. 



TRAPPED AT LAST, 137 

We waited, holding our very breath, and when the 
woods were again illumined by the lightning, we 
saw a number of other small houses similarly con- 
structed. 

Was it a village of the dead ? If not — what ? 
We could not account for or explain the strange, 
solemn silence which pervaded the place, so we de- 
termined to make an examination. We found the 
houses arranged in rows or streets facing each 
other, while at one end of the ground was a large 
open structure containing what seemed to be a pul- 
pit and innumerable wooden benches. It flashed 
upon our minds that this was a camp-meeting 
ground, and being such, we decided upon *' holding 
forth" for the night, at least. Losing no time, we 
entered one of the cabins, which was fitted up with 
two tiers of bunks, a fireplace, and chimney. Pine- 
knots being at hand, we built a fire, before which we 
stretched ourselves, warming our thoroughly be- 
numbed frames, and drying our soaked apparel. 

We warmly congratulated each other upon the 
singular good fortune which had favored us in the 
time of our greatest need, and were about to climb 
up into the bunks to obtain needed sleep, when we 
were thrown into a state of excitement and alarm, 
beside which all others seemed dwarfed and insig- 
nificant. Our hearts throbbed violently as a troop 
of horsemen galloped into the grounds. We looked 
into each other's faces, and found nothing but dis- 
may depicted there. If we had been a gang of cut- 
throats, with a halter around our necks, we could 



138 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

not have looked more woe-begone. We had been 
followed, and now completely surrounded, without a 
single chance for escape; our situation was wretched 
in the extreme. Visions of men swinging from 
trees presented themselves vividly to our troubled 
minds, for ^'home-guards" were always brave and 
cruel where no danger to themselves was to be ap- 
prehended. But why did our sanguine enemies de- 
lay operations ? Certainly they did not fear danger 
from four unarmed, half-starved men ? Then why did 
they not enter our cabin and take us therefrom ? 
The only door opened towards where they stood 
watching us through the open crevices. Kad there 
been a rear door or window, we would long ago 
have made an attempt at escape, but there was but 
one place of egress — that was in front, where we 
were sure the enemy was drawn up in battle line to 
shoot us down when we attempted to leave. 

But Captain Todd, meanwhile, had taken a 
practical view of things, and when it seemed as if all 
hope had fled, he suddenly broke out into a hearty 
laugh, which caused cold perspiration to suffuse my 
face, and sent the blood coursing rapidly through 
my veins. Had impending danger made him a 
maniac? He laughed long and loud, then turning 
suddenly, seized Lewis and dragged him forth from 
an upper bunk, rolling him over the floor, and before 
quitting his maniacal antics, pulled Grant's old hat 
down over his eyes and face, and renewed his cach- 
innations. 

" Cavalry !" he shouted loud enough to be heard 



ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. 1 39 

a mile away. " Cav-al-ree ! Hogs, hogs!" Saying 
which he seized a blazing pine-knot — an excellent 
torch — and his club, and sallied forth — to the battle. 
After a short search we found an old sow and a lit- 
ter of pigs lying under the platform in the ** taber- 
nacle." We fearlessly attacked them, killing three 
of their number, which we carried back to our cabin. 
Having no knife, we protruded a sharp stick longi- 
tudinally through each of the little porkies, and at 
once set to work roasting them over the' blazing 
fire. We succeeded in browning them nicely, then 
divided the parts as equitably as possible, tearing 
them into pieces with our hands, having no means 
of cutting them up ; then lay down, sleeping soundly 
till morning, despite the storm which continued 
without interruption. 

As the sun rose we resumed our tramp, the at- 
mosphere being fresh and pure, a cold wind blowing 
strongly down upon us from the mountain tops in 
our front. The ascent of the hills greatly fatigued 
us, but we kept on, not halting until noon, when, 
seeing a small farm-house in an open field, we 
stopped to reconnoitre, and not finding any men 
about the premises, we emerged from our covert 
and boldly walked up to it. 

The first objects we saw were two young women 
engaged in churning near the back door. We ad- 
dressed them in a respectful manner, and asked for 
a drink of buttermilk. While one of the beauties 
proceeded to comply with our request, the other 
suddenly departed, but speedily returned, followed 



HO FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

by two young men, both clad in gray uniform. 
Had a shell exploded at our feet, we could not have 
been more surprised, but as there were only two 
rebels, and four Yankees, we gave ourselves no 
particular uneasiness. We kept our eyes upon the 
young men, and they took the same pleasure in 
lookinof at us, but we did not intend to allow them 
to obtain any advantage over us. One of the girls, 
and she was a vixen, finally inquired where we came 
from, and where we were going. Replying that we 
were " Tennesseeans," on our way home, she flushed 
up and declared that she did not believe a "single 
word " we uttered. She was sure '' you uns" were 
^'Yankees," for we wore "blue clothing," and we 
acted " just like that pesky people." We endeavored 
to laugh her down, but this only incensed her so 
much that she threatened to send over to Lenoir 
and tell Captain Estes of her suspicions. She took 
special pleasure in telling us that it was not such a 
very long time ago that a Yankee, who had escaped 
from Salisbury, had been recaptured and hung near 
Lenoir, and if she was only sure that we were 
"Yankees," she would gladly assist in hanging us 
on the same tree. 

John W , one of the men on the stoop, was 

a cripple, and the happy or unhappy husband of the 
female who had acted so bitterly towards us. While 
his spouse was declaiming against us so virulently, 
he remained a passive listener; and when she con- 
cluded her tirade, he winked at us significantly, and 
hobbhng off the stoop, bade us follow him. I must 



AN INTERESTING STORY. I4I 

confess that I accompanied him with misgivings, be- 
cause uncertain as to what might be the result. He 
walked directly towards and entered a heavy under- 
brush in the centre of the field, but two or three 
hundred yards from the house. Seating ourselves 
upon a log, John told us the following story : — He 
had served in the Confederate army at the com- 
mencement of the war, and been wounded in one of 
the earlier battles, subsequently being discharged 
for disability, his wound having incapacitated him 
from performing further service. Six weeks ago he 
had married that girl, and it was only this morning 
that he had received an order to repair to the ren- 
dezvous for service to the end of the war, whenever 
that might be. Every man in the Confederacy had 
that day been conscripted, and all able to creep had 
to go to the '' front." He said he knew we were 
Yankees the moment he *' sot eyes" on us ; notwith- 
standing, he had resolved to befriend us. He hoped 
we would be able to get through to our lines, then 
return and take him prisoner. Two of his brothers, 
captured in battle, had " taken the oath," and were 
now doing a good business at the North, and his 
sole ambition was to join them. He believed the 
North could feed and whip the South at one and 
the same time. 

When John informed us that he had a rifle, we 
coaxed him to accompany us, and I verily believe 
he would have consented to our proposition had not 
his little wife at that inopportune moment entered 
the swamp. Perhaps it was unjust to condemn her 



142 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

SO severely, for she brought us half a bushel of 
sweet potatoes, but after all, she generally upset 
her kindnesses by indulging in vain threats. She 
dumped the potatoes upon the ground, ordered her 
husband to return at once to the house, then left, 
without bidding us farewell. John gave us general 
directions as to the best course to pursue, bidding us 
to be as cautious as possible, and keep clear of every 
one in the vicinity. He pointed to a woods half a 
mile away, which if we could gain in safety, would 
afford us cover till after dark, when it would be ad- 
visable for us to march with all haste toward the 
mountain. In the meanwhile, he would keep watch 
over us until sunset, when we would have to look 
entirely to our own safety. 

Thanking this kind-hearted and unfortunate 
soldier for his goodness to us, and seeing him re- 
gain his family, we ran out of the thicket and speed- 
ily gained the woods indicated. The place, how- 
ever, was not what we had expected to find it, being 
open, and illy adapted for our purpose. Finding a 
large pile of brush, we succeeded in crawling under 
it, and making ourselves quite comfortable, soon fell 
asleep. Towards sunset, we were awakened by a 
noise near by, and peering through the labyrinth 
of brush, saw a large dog " smelling" around the 
stack. Close at hand, also, were an old woman and 
a little girl picking chips. The dog, determined 
upon ascertaining what was in the brush, kept 
" nosing" about, which had a wonderful depressing 
effect upon our nerves. If he discovered us, an 



i 



A BLIND MAN. 1 43 

alarm would doubtless be raised, and to prevent 
this, Todd protruded his arm, and poising his club, 
let it drive with great force, striking the canine on 
his hind legs, and causing him to move off, howling 
in a terrific manner. The old woman in her fright 
dropped her basket, and looked about ; but seeing 
nothing, again went on with her task, which being 
concluded, she left the woods, and went to a house 
in the clearing. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

A BLIND MAN IN OUR PARTY. 

AS the sun sank behind a great hill on our left, 
we emerged from the woods, and pursued our 
way. Reaching soon after a narrow though deep 
stream of water coursing through the little valley, we 
had considerable difficulty in crossing it. We finally 
got over by means of a fallen tree which spanned it. 
While pushing our way through some tall dry grass 
I suddenly lost my sight, my eyes having filled with 
the dust shaken from the tops of the weeds. I 
could not follow my comrades, neither did I dare 
call aloud for them. As it was now quite dark I 
was afraid they would not be able to find me. Dis- 
covering my absence on reaching the woods they 
hastily returned, and on learning my condition 
they expressed profound sorrow. Todd led me 
along for an hour or two, when, it being impossible 



144 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

to see the north star, owing to the density of the 
woods, we halted ; some fine boughs afforded us a 
luxurious bed, on which we soon fell asleep. The 
night was bitter cold, with a heavy frost falling, but 
we had to endure it, having no matches with which 
to ignite a fire. We had not needed one so greatly 
at any previous time. 

The next morning, October 29th, "Old Sol" 
came forth in all his glory, to cheer and guide us on 
our way. My heart was glad when I became satis- 
fied that my sight had returned, as during the night 
we all feared that my eyes had been injuriously af- 
fected by the moon; that I was ** moon-struck," as 
I have heard it termed. 

Our route now lay through the mountain forest, 
and, consequently, ascending we caught from time 
to time exquisite views of the lofty summits. Great 
mists were moving lightly away. Now and then some 
monarch of the ranges had his lofty brow wrapped in 
the delicate embrace of white clouds, which trembled 
into fantastic shapes of smoke-wreaths and castles 
and towers, and sometimes to take the contour of the 
mountains themselves. The ascent of the mountain 
became tedious and painful. There was no road, no 
beaten path for us to follow. But how delicious the 
sunlight on the tree-stems, through the glades of 
that wild forest ! how delicate the green mosses 
clothing the trunks of fallen monarchs ! how crystal 
and sweet the water which we found and drank from 
the foamy brooks ! 

Still we continued on, climbing on and upward, 



AMONG THE DESERTERS. I45 

the prospect, I confess, growing more and more 
dreary step by step. Noontime had come and gone, 
so had the last vestige of our " pigs." A few raw 
potatoes were all that remained to us, and as all 
space beyond us seemed barren and inhospitable, 
two of our party refused to move another step 
forward until more abundantly supplied with ra- 
tions. They refused to listen to any argument, and 
declared that, danger or no danger, they would re- 
plenish their haversacks with food before advancing 
another step. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

AMONG THE DESERTERS. 

AWAY below our perch on the mountain side we 
observed a cabin constructed of solid logs, and 
as this was the only sign of civilization visible, Todd 
and Lewis resolved to visit it. Grant and I watched 
them as they descended towards it. On reaching 
the base, however, instead of continuing on to the 
house, they suddenly turned to the right, up which 
they followed a ravine, walking with hasty strides. 
Wondering what could divert them, we reluctantly 
concluded to follow, although we felt that every step 
taken backwards was a serious loss. On gaining the 
ravine, we saw our comrades engaged in earnest 
conversation with two women, who appeared to be 



146 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

at work in a small clearing. Directly Todd and 
Lewis climbed over the rude fence, and when we 
again saw them they were hard at work, cutting what 
we then supposed to be corn, but which we after- 
wards found out was sugar-cane. The two females 
followed a path along the opposite side of the ravine, 
and soon disappeared within the cabin. Grant and 
I were now satisfied that good luck was once more 
to attend us, so we patiently waited for the return 
of our comrades, whom we could see were still wield- 
ing some kind of a cutting instrument in the little 
field above us. 

While seated thus, another actor appeared upon 
the scene. The new-comer, a bright-looking boy of 
thirteen summers, came up the ravine, leading an 
old horse, attached to a rudely constructed sled. 
On seeing us, he stopped, acting quite shy. We at 
once engaged him in conversation, and in reply to a 
question he said he was carting cane to his mother's 
mill. The little fellow kept his beautiful blue eyes 
upon the gold-plated and once bright buttons on my 
faded and tattered blue vest, and as I saw that he 
was greatly pleased with them, I told him I would 
give him the vest if he procured for us something to 
eat. The boy's eyes sparkled like diamonds, as he 
replied cheerfully, '' I will !" But I little realized at 
that moment how greatly I should need that vest 
before reaching the Union lines. How often did I 
shiver afterwards for the want of that old vest, and 
how many times I wished for it, I may not say. I 
gave it away cheerfully because I was very hungry, 



''LITTLE yOET I47 

and for food a half-famished mortal will give all that 
he hath. 

" Joe" Estes — that was the pretty name of the 
little fellow — told us his father was " in the army," 
but he acted so strangely while telling us this, that 
I doubted the truthfulness of his assertion. 

" How far is it across the mountains?" we in- 
quired. 

*' You uns can't never git across 'em," was the 
reply. 

When we inquired whether we could not find 
some one to guide us over, he said : 

'' Oh, yes, uncle will show you the way." 

*' Who is your uncle ?" meekly asked Grant. 

" ," was the prompt reply. 

On hearing that dread name pronounced, I was 
suddenly affected with faintness, being convinced that 
our enterprise had come to an untimely end, simply 
because my two hungry comrades had acted im- 
prudently. 

was a captain in the Confederate 

army, doing duty with his command in the moun- 
tains. We had repeatedly heard of him and his 
deeds before crossing the Catawba river, and had 
been cautioned against attempting to ford the river 
at Lovelady's Ford, as his command guarded it. 

We looked at the lad, and he in turn looked at 
us. There was a peculiarity about his face which 
reassured us, so we continued the conversation. His 
uncle, he went on to say, lived over that mountain — 
pointing to a hill seven miles distant, — and he was 



148 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

now at home. This was some consolation, at all 
events, as I should have been very uneasy, had I 
been told that the captain was at a less distance. 
He being seven miles away I plucked up courage 
to see what else I could learn from the boy, who 
seldom said anything unless in answer to a question, 
when he gave business-like answers. He said his 
mother was at the sugar-mill, just down the " gully," 
grinding " cane," and he knew that she would be 
glad to give us something to eat. He would go 
down and see, if we would " hold the horse." 
Promising to carefully attend to the old animal, Joe 
ran off as fast as his little legs could carry him. 
Grant and I at once concluded that it would be 
politic to get away from this locality with as little 
delay as possible as there was no telling how soon 
the dreaded mountaineer and his company might 
put in an appearance, in which event it would be 
fool-hardiness to attempt flight. 

But all's well that ends well. We were in what 
seemed to be a trap, and we must extricate our- 
selves before it was sprung upon us. But how 
should we be able to do this ? 

Voices ! Looking down the ravine, in the direc- 
tion pursued by Joe, we saw the lad and a woman — 
his mother — approaching. She was a typical woman 
of the North Carolina mountains. No shadow of 
fear manifested itself in her somewhat masculine 
features, as she boldly advanced towards us. If the 
boy had surprised us, she was still more of a mys- 
tery. She lost no time in proceeding with the busi- 



A NOBLE WOMAN-. 149 

ness at hand, and in a voice which had no uncertain 
sound, demanded to know who we were, and what 
we wanted "in this neighborhood." Her bearing 
as well as her manner of speech was not calculated 
to impress us favorably, and induced us to act care- 
fully. We were tired of the war, and anxious to see 
our families, who lived in Tennessee, we told the 
woman, who kept her eyes fixed upon us. As we 
were half-starved, we would thank her for something 
to eat. She finally alarmed us by saying that al- 
though she had not seen any Yankees since the war 
commenced, yet, from our appearance and actions, 
she was convinced that we were '* Northerners." 
We assured her that our homes were in Tennessee, 
and that we had only last week deserted from the 
army. The woman said we could not deceive her, 
and the sooner we proved our identity the better it 
would be for us. '' If," said she, " you have been 
sent up into these mountains to look for deserters, 
you cannot intimidate me. I will give you food, 
but beware how you abuse my hospitality. You 
must not use any deceit, nor attempt to guide any 
one else here ; if you do, you will be shot down 
where you stand. A dozen true rifles are now lev- 
elled on you, and if I raise my hand you will fall dead 
at my feet. You look God-forsaken enough, at any 
rate, and I will not see you suffer for food. You 
must prove zvho you are before I leave this spot, 
and if you should turn out to be spies, seeking the 
life of my husband, and his friends, you will rue the 
day you ventured into this wild." 



ISO FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

We had never before met such a woman. Cer- 
tainly she was the bravest of her sex, and being, as 
she had just admitted, the wife of a '' deserter," why 
should we not implicitly trust her ? If we were to 
find '' deserters" on the mountains, why might not 
the present be a favorable opportunity. Everything 
seemed to favor the supposition that deserters 
roamed these hills at their own sweet will ; then why 
not confide in the honor and generosity of the brave 
woman who confronted us ? We were perhaps, en- 
tirely in her power, and we might as well make the 
best of her friendship, if it could be gained. Con- 
fessing all, I showed her a new commission which 
my colonel had given me on the field of battle a day 
or two previous to my capture, and which I had been 
enabled to retain. I exhibited my well-worn diary, 
together with a pencil sketch of myself in the prison- 
pen at Savannah, taken by Captain Ullfers, the 
noted engineer on General Fremont's staff — also 
several other papers, which satisfied our shrewd in- 
quirer that we were veritable Yankees, and officers 
besides. Mrs. Estes grasped each of us warmly by the 
hand, and was fervent in her expressions of good-will. 
Her face was radiant with joy, reflecting her heart's 
delight at the discovery which she had made. While 
engaged in pleasant converse, Todd and Lewis, ac- 
companied by the two women heretofore alluded 
to, came down the ravine, the latter bearing a large 
earthen jug and several big loaves of bread, hot from 
the oven. On reaching us, Todd and Lewis looked 
somewhat surprised on seeing us in the company of 



TR U TH STRA NGER THA N FIC TION. I 5 I 

Mrs. Estes and her son, while the two women who 
had baked the bread, were staggered on hearing the 
lady talking to us as though she had simply met old 
acquaintances instead of utter strangers. When they 
heard her allude to our " Northern Country," one of 
the women cried out : *' Thar, now, what liars, you 
two uns are ! you swore to us that you were Kain- 
tuckians and deserters, when we stuck to it all the 
time that you uns were real Yankees. Had you told 
us the truth at the start, we would have done much 
better by you, for we love the Yankee soldiers — we 
are Yankees ourselves .'' 

The party laughed heartily at this sally of Julia 
Setser and Sarah Teague. That is, those laughed 
who could laugh, but a mouthful of corn-bread, 
soaked in sorghum molasses, prevented me from 
being outwardly mirthful. It was quite a pic-nic 
scene for an hour after this, during which time the 
women made many inquiries concerning our coun- 
try — a subject which did not grow tiresome to them. 
After having heartily partaken of the good things 
which had been provided in great abundance, Mrs. 
Estes invited us to follow her down the ravine, 
which we took great pleasure in doing — being will- 
ing captives. Secreting us in the laurel near the 
cane-mill, and cautioning us to remain very quiet, 
as the main road ran near the house, she left, and 
accompanied by her two female friends, proceeded 
direct to her humble home. 

Night's shadows were fast creeping over the 
mighty hills when we were awakened by our angelic 



152 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

friend from a doze into which we had unconsciously 
fallen when left alone in the silent woods. She 
looked quite handsome now, having combed her 
hair smoothly down her ruddy cheeks, and with her 
comely form robed in a green dress. With a gra- 
cious smile, worthy of a queen, she invited us to 
partake of " supper," for which duty I verily believe 
no other four men in the Confederacy were better 
qualified to perform. We needed no second invita- 
tion, and straightway she led us to a most inviting 
repast. Upon the clean, green sward, under the 
grateful shade of a huge tree, we found a splendid 
set-out — nice wheat flour biscuits, corn-cakes, milk, 
honey, chicken en fricass^e^ roasted potatoes, etc., 
tastily arranged upon a cloth as spotless as purity 
itself. Nothing could be more inviting to men in 
our condition. What a contrast to our supper on 
the previous day ! Would wonders ever cease ? 

" Now, gentlemen," said Mrs. Estes in a clear, 
rich voice, *' you may prepare yourselves for another 
surprise," saying which she stepped back a few feet, 
and looking upward, waved a white cloth over her 
head. In a few minutes afterwards, we were amazed 
on beholding a score of men, clad in the Confederate 
gray, each carrying a rifle, rapidly descending from 
the giddy height almost above us. Before we could 
comprehend what seemed to be an ideal tableau, 
these same men, hardy mountaineers, with Mrs. 
Estes' husband at their head, surrounded us. Intro- 
ductions followed, when the entire party squatted 
upon the grass- in order to more successfully attack 



A KEEPSAKE. 155 

the edibles. Long before the repast was finished, 
there existed between these gallant men, who had 
welcomed us with open arms, and ourselves, a kin- 
ship which made us at once friends and brothers. 

Mrs. Estes was very attentive to me, continually 
expressing sympathy, and declaring that she could 
not understand how I had been able to travel so far 
without a covering for my head or feet. Touched 
by her motherly regard, and desirous of partially 
repaying her for her kindnesses, I drew a heavy gold 
seal ring from my finger, and begged her to accept 
it as a memento of the occasion. The good woman 
at first declined, but upon my insisting upon her 
acceptance of the trinket, she reluctantly took it, 
saying she would keep it as long as she lived, then 
ask her children to treasure it as a keepsake of the 
war. She was profuse in her thanks for a gift which 
I most cheerfully made. 

We lingered around the repast, which was joyous 
beyond my power of description. If we were pleased 
with the attentions showered upon us, our new-found 
friends were equally so. They were thoroughly un- 
selfish, noble and courageous, and I had no doubt that 
they would see us through to our lines. The women, 
too, talked about the war, having had an abiding faith 
that the old Union would be preserved. The women 
whom I met along upon the mountains of Western 
North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, while sur- 
rounded by terrible dangers, and often caused to 
suffer, were as heroic as any whose noble deeds are 
recorded in our country's annals. 



156 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

In every age and clime woman has proved her- 
self the good angel sent by Heaven to alleviate 
human misery. In the depths of African forests, 
Mungo Park would have perished, but for the sym- 
pathy and generous assistance of the dusky maidens 
who ministered to his necessities. Other intrepid 
travelers, the recipients of woman's kindness, also 
attest their appreciation of her virtues and services. 
When I forget the kind words and noble deeds of 
many women whom I met in my painful pilgrimage 
may my right hand become palsied, and my tongue 
lose its power to bless. Their position was often 
pitiable, but their misfortunes and sorrows caused 
none to turn their backs when a suffering soldier 
solicited their good offices. With all their trials 
and tribulations, they manifested the greatest sym- 
pathy for us. 

The supper concluded — it was now quite dark — we 
bade the women ''good night," and commenced the 
ascent of the mountain, the base of which rested at 
the edge of our supper table. Marching in " Indian 
file" we crept skyward — a silence, not of gloom, but 
of reverence and joy, falling upon our party as we 
passed through the aisles of the grand wood and 
climbed the knolls which rose like whales* backs 
every few hundred yards. After an hour's weary 
climbing in Cimmerian darkness, we entered a long 
line of laurel thicket, and in the midst of the awful 
solitude, my blood curdled on hearing a determined 
voice demand, " Who comes there ?" A thousand 
thoughts flashed through my mind on hearing this 



IN THE EAR TH'S BO WEL S. 1 57 

dread challenge. I had not expected anything of the 
kind, and for a moment I was unkind enough to won- 
der whether we were not being led to the place of 
slaughter. Had we been deceived, and were we in 
the hands of friends or enemies ? My suspense, how- 
ever, was of short duration, for the countersign, what- 
ever it may have been, was properly given, when we 
moved forward a short distance and descended into 
what seemed to be the heart of the mountain. 

Judge of my surprise as I entered a commodious 
cave in the hill-side, and found a cheerful fire and 
plenty of dry straw upon which to repose. At the 
farther end was a chimney — simply a hole excavated 
through the mountain's side to allow the escape of 
smoke as well as to admit of proper ventilation. A 
barrel or two of sweet potatoes, bags of meal and 
apples, were also found within the apartment. This 
spectacle allowed me to take no thought for the 
morrow, which would certainly take care of itself. 

Directly after entering the cave, a real cozy 
place, two young men who had remained on guard 
while their comrades were at supper in the valley 
below, were brought in and introduced to us. They 
were handsome fellows, even in their rabbit-skin caps 
and fur moccasins. Each carried a long and very 
heavy smooth-bore rifle. They tarried but a few 
minutes, however, as they were anxious, they said, 
to take a '' tramp down into the valley," in order to 
" have a little fun with the reg'lars," also to pay 
their respects to a couple of young ladies who had 
manifested some little interest in their welfare. 



158 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

Excusing themselves, bidding us ** good night and 
pleasant dreams," and promising to be with us again 
on the morrow, they bowed themselves out, and dis- 
appeared in the forest's deep gloom. 

Bill Estes and a single companion remained with 
us through the night. Anxious to hear about our 
wanderings in the swamps of South Carolina, and up 
to the hour of our first meeting with his wife, we 
briefly related the story. Bill regarded our march 
as a wonderful feat, and said he was puzzled to know 
how we had accomplished it. "Why," said he, 
"with my knowledge of the country, and dressed in 
gray clothing, I would not dare to attempt such a 
thing." He told us a hundred times that night that 
we must be " brave men" to go through so many 
dangerous scenes, and " right smart to fool them 
South Carolinians like that." Until now we had 
not fully realized the magnitude of our enterprise, 
nor the dangers which environed us. His exclama- 
tions of surprise caused us to think that the tramp 
was really a remarkable incident in our history, and 
worthy of record. 

Bill was the most interesting man we had met in 
the sunny South. He had a large heart, while no 
danger could deter him from the performance of any 
known duty. I never wearied in listening to his 
stories of fatigue, hardship, and suffering, but all the 
time felt great pity for his misfortunes. Tired of the 
war, wherein most of his friends had been slaugh- 
tered, and anxious, like ourselves, to see home once 
more, he watched his opportunity when Lee's army 



AN INTERESTING SABBA TH. 1 59 

crossed into Virginia, after its defeat at Gettysburg, 
and gaining the Blue Ridge, he followed the range 
almost to his very door, which he safely reached 
after some three weeks' travel. He had an intense 
hatred for the Confederate leaders, and declared that 
he would never allow himself to be taken back to 
the army. True, he was not permitted to occupy 
his home, nor live with his wife and children — 
neither could he extend to his family the protection 
and assistance which they so much needed, yet it 
was a great satisfaction to him and to them to be 
where they could at least see one another occasion- 
ally. He had not passed a single night in his own 
house since his return from the army, for spies were 
continually watching for him, and for hundreds of 
others who were in a similar predicament. We 
talked until after midnight, then stretching our 
weary bodies upon the soft bed of clean straw, re- 
posed blissfully till late next morning — Sunday. 
We slept tranquilly, because, for the first time in 
many months, we went to bed with every assurance 
of safety, being surrounded by friends, with brave 
and loving hearts. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

A NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN SABBATH. 

IT was about eight o'clock when we arose, invigo- 
r ted by long needed rest. Looking out of the 
cave, we saw the genial sun creeping heavenward 



l60 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

over the mountain in front, and noticed a number 
of our last night's acquaintances standing without. 
It was a singular spectacle, certainly, which no one 
would have dreamed of a few hours previous. 
Here we were, four Yankee officers, in the heart 
of the enemy's country, in a mountain fastness, sur- 
rounded by some of the men whom we had encoun- 
tered in battle's stern array at Bull Run, Roanoke, 
Newbern, Fredericksburg, and on other ensanguined 
fields, who now were keeping watch and ward over 
our lives, which they regarded as precious in their 
sight — willing to shed their blood in our defence. 

Walking down the mountain side to a beautiful 
babbling brook, we made our morning toilet with 
pleasure. This was a duty we had been derelict in 
for a long time. So complete was the transforma- 
tion, after the process of washing, that it was with 
difficulty we recognized each other. Returning, or 
rather climbing back to the " cave," Bill invited 
Todd and myself to accompany him to breakfast — 
Grant and Lewis going off in another direction with 
Lewis Beaumond. 

We walked leisurely along, the ascent of the hills 
being quite tedious and fatiguing. The sunlight 
was gorgeous, the atmosphere balmy. Beside our 
path the mountain laurel, the ginseng and the gen- 
tian abounded, and pines and spruces, poplars, hicko- 
ries, walnuts, oak, and ash grew in profusion. Every 
turn brought a new vista of grand old hills to our 
astonished view. The rare atmosphere gave new 
zest to our journey. It was here, in this remote and 



A SQUARE MEAL. l6l 

mountain-guarded dell, that we found the moun- 
taineer in his native purity. No contact with even 
the people of the lowlands of his own State had 
given him familiarity with the world below him. 

A by-path through a dense laurel thicket, where 
wild vines grew luxuriantly, brought us to a small 
clearing, and from behind these immense pine-trees 
on the mountain's pinnacle an exquisite view was 
afforded. At this point Bill had stood through win- 
ter's blasts and summer's fervent heats, watching his 
wife and children in the beautiful valley below. It 
is difficult to imagine a more romantic-looking spot. 
From our lofty perch we looked down upon the 
home of our new-found friend, while beyond, high 
on the horizon, lay Grandfather and Grandmother 
Mountains, sharply outlined in the sun's glare, their 
delicate blue colors amazing and delighting us. We 
were entranced with the grand view the landscape 
presented. 

Bill gave a peculiar call, so closely imitating the 
cry of a bird peculiar to that region, that I involun- 
tarily turned, expecting to see the songster, and in 
less than a minute afterwards we saw his wife leave 
her habitation, bearing a basket upon her arm. The 
brave-hearted woman disappeared from our sight, 
but half an hour afterwards emerged from the thicket 
near by, cheerily greeting us with a " good morning, 
gentlemen ; I trust you have enjoyed yourselves." 
After exchanging salutations, she spread a spotless 
cloth upon the ground and covered it with excellent 
biscuits, beef, pork, butter, preserves, etc. She also 



k 



1 62 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

served us with coffee (made from rye-flour), which 
answered as a substitute for old government Java. 
While feasting, the conversation took a general turn 
— the most agreeable part thereof being chapters 
from the war history of the brave matron, to whom 
I never could tire in listening. She had repeatedly 
been awakened at the dead hour of night, she as- 
sured us, and forced out of doors by blood-thirsty 
guerrillas seeking her husband's life. Often and 
again had she been driven from her home and made 
to stand in the snow while bands of cutthroats 
searched the premises, turning her household effects 
topsy-turvy, to gratify a spirit of devilish malignity. 
On one occasion, after removing her and her children 
from the house, the guerrillas seized '* little Josie," 
and tying him by his thumbs to a tree, attempted to 
extort from him information concerning the where- 
abouts of his father. The noble boy, however, with- 
stood the terrible punishment without murmuring, 
and heroically refused to betray his father, notwith- 
standing the torture to which he was so cruelly sub- 
jected. She knew that Joe would die sooner than 
reveal his father's hiding-place, because he had been 
educated to value his safety beyond all other con- 
siderations. When all else had failed, the woods 
had been fired, in order if possible, by this means to 
drive the deserters — *' lyers-out" as they were gener- 
ally called — from their lairs. This, however, had had 
no other effect than to make the game scarce during 
the winter months. The "hell-hounds," as the 
Unionists invariably denominated the troops sent 



MRS. ESTES' HEROISM. 1 63 

to effect their capture, had surrounded Mrs. Estes* 
house for days together, hoping thus to prevent her 
from communicating with her husband or supplying 
him with food. 

During the winter season, when the ground was 
covered with snow, Mrs. Estes had, in visiting her 
husband, been compelled to climb to giddy heights, 
walking on ice and through water so as to leave no 
trail. The '' hounds" had stolen her horse and cows 
and poultry, had threatened to burn her house ; in 
fact, they had done all that intense hatred and devil- 
ish ingenuity could devise. The good woman told us 
much that I failed to jot down. She remained with 
us some two hours, and on seeing her regain her 
abode in safety, we walked slowly back to the cave, 
where, lighting corn-cob pipes, we smoked and 
chatted with a number of mountaineers, who, having 
heard of our arrival, had gathered from the surround- 
ing hills. During the afternoon, others came over 
to " headquarters" to see the ** Yankee officers" — all 
treating us with marked respect. Our journey was 
a source of great wonder to these brave people, who 
could not understand how we had been able to ac- 
complish such a marvellous feat. 

At about two o'clock, a score of ladies, young 
and old, reached the hill above us, each bringing 
some article of food. Spreading white cloths upon 
the moss-covered earth, they speedily deposited 
thereon roast chickens, bread, potatoes, milk, apples, 
honey, etc., and invited all to partake. Our party, 
which had been augmented, now numbered more 



164 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

than forty men, nearly every one of whom carried a 
rifle or shot-gun. These men were " dead-shots," 
having from boyhood roamed the mountains in 
search of deer, bear, panther, and other game. They 
were inured to hardship and capable of great fatigue 
and desperate daring. 

After a long conversation, a number of these men 
consented to accompany us to the Union lines. 
They said it would be impossible for us to cross the 
mountains without a guide — hundreds of miles would 
have to be traversed ere we would be able to reach 
a place of safety. They argued that they would be 
quite as well off in accompanying us as in remain- 
ing behind, and as they needed supplies the present 
afforded a favorable opportunity for obtaining them. 
We promised to assist them on reaching the Union 
lines to the extent of our ability. The women-folks, 
too, urged them to go with us, and as everything 
was soon settled the men departed to make prep- 
arations for the journey. At four o'clock, after sor- 
rowful adieus, we took our departure from a people 
whose hospitality has ever been proverbial, and a 
memory of whose unbounded kindnesse-s will last as 
long as life, 

Bill and his wife skilfully guided us along the 
*' range," keeping well out of sight of the roadways. 
Having forgotten a flask of powder, which Bill 
deemed necessary for the trip, he went back to pro- 
cure it, promising to rejoin us after dark. His wife 
said she knew " every foot of the way," so she vol- 
unteered to conduct us over to her sisters'. She 



A VISITING ANGEL. 165 

sprang like a gazelle over rocks and across dark 
ravines, and speedily exhausted us, for which she 
begged ** pardon." After climbing along a rugged 
pathway for several miles, we descended the moun- 
tain slope and almost before aware of it, stood upon 
the right bank of a wide, though somewhat shallow 
running stream of water, which came down from 
the mountain through a beautiful valley. Mrs. 
Estes, seeing that we were in a quandary, remarked 
that we need not feel alarmed, as the water was 
" quite shallow." Gathering up the skirts of her 
dress, she fearlessly stepped into the river, bidding 
us '' follow," keeping as quiet as possible. We had 
no difficulty in crossing, as the water was in no place 
more than two feet in depth. Quite frequently our 
guide stopped and listened attentively, then pro- 
ceeded as before. 

The sun was sinking behind a great hill on our 
right as we gained the opposite bank, where we 
secreted ourselves behind a huge stack of corn- 
stalks, to await the return of our fair cicerone, who 
had left us to visit a large farm-house, which we 
could plainly see, some half mile away. We con- 
gratulated ourselves upon the bright prospect before 
us, and were exceedingly happy. Noticing an ap- 
ple-tree near by, we crawled out of the bushes and 
gathered some of the delicious fruit, and while thus 
engaged, noticed the hurried approach of a woman 
who did not at all resemble the lady who had but 
recently left us. As she came near, we saw tliat she 
was young and quite pretty. Walking directly to 



1 66 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

where we stood, the rosy-cheeked lass modestly- 
curtsied, saying in a melodious voice, ** Sister says 
it will be necessary for you to remain where you 
now are until after dark, as soldiers have been pass- 
ing along the road all the afternoon." The young 
lady, noticing our fondness for apples, picked us 
some choice ones, and made herself very agreeable, 
and each of us did our best to entertain her. She 
expressed great sympathy for us, especially wonder- 
ing at my ability to travel barefooted. She made 
many inquiries concerning the North, which she 
said she would dearly love to visit. 

Darkness prevailed when Mrs. Estes, accompa- 
nied by a young lady, a sister of the first arrival, 
joined us, reporting that a rebel vidette was patrol- 
ling the road near the house, a small force having 
proceeded towards the mountains on our left. They 
told us that a brother of the young ladies had just 
returned from the Union lines at Bull Gap, which 
place was besieged by General Early. Had any 
other general been reported there I would have 
been very sad ; but it was Early, and as the Confed- 
erates always had him besieging some out-of-the- 
way place, I concluded there must be some mistake 
about the matter. Early, the last time I heard 
from him, was bombarding Bangor, Maine, and as 
he would likely keep on in that direction till he got 
to Quebec, it was hardly possible that he could 
have returned so soon. 

When everything seemed safe, we started toward 
the farm-house, the ladies taking the lead. We 



A TERRIBLE SCARE. 1 67 

closely followed a fence which skirted the field, and 
on reaching the roadway listened for the enemy, 
whom, of course, we were exceedingly anxious to 
avoid. Carefully crawling between the bars of the 
fence, we lost no time in crossing the road and 
entering the yard, where a big watch-dog barked 
furiously, as we ran up a wagon-way to the barn. 
The women, fearful that the barking of the dog 
(which was unusual) would alarm and bring the 
enemy down upon us, returned to the road to re- 
spond should there be any " callers." No one 
troubling us or them, the girls soon came back and 
piloted us up a path into a very deep ravine, which 
was washed by a torrent of water, where, they said, 
we would be ^* perfectly safe," and where no one 
could possibly disturb us: they then left, promising 
to return as speedily as possible. 

The girls had been absent probably five minutes, 
when we were alarmed by hearing some one moving 
along the side of the rugged mountain on our right, 
and almost immediately above the spot where we 
stood. Halting within a few yards of us (although 
we could not see him, nor he us), he sung out in a 
deep undertone: ''Hey, Bill! B-i-1-1 ! Hey! Whar 
be you ?" My blood chilled, while beads of perspi- 
ration quickly gathered upon my face. Satisfied 
that we had been outflanked, that the enemy had 
surrounded us, that we were in a very tight box, and 
that our safety consisted in immediate flight, we 
ran down the ravine in the direction of the house, 
perhaps not the wisest thing to do under the cir- 



l68 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

cumstances. Had I not tumbled into the creek, near 
the barn, and had not my comrades stopped to 
help me out of the water, there is no telling where 
we would have gone, or what would have become 
of us, for while engaged in blowing the water out of 
my nose, the girls happened to pass near by. When 
informed of the cause of our alarm and trepidation, 
the girls laughed heartily, quieting our nerves by 
saying that the man who wanted to see " Bill " was 
their brother, who had come down from his '* retreat" 
on the mountain, to converse with another brother 
— a cripple. 

If we had been unduly frightened, so had the 
fellow who caused the alarm, for when he heard us 
scampering away, he took to his heels and made off 
in an opposite direction. He was as positive, he 
told us, we were after him. as we were sure that he 
was after us. An hour or so later, on returning, 
he good-humoredly joined in the laugh, which the 
young ladies insisted upon enjoying. The girls had 
brought with them fresh bread, milk, apples, and 
a small tin pail filled with sorghum molasses, for 
which of course we had a decidedly good appetite — 
and when did we not have an appetite ? Breaking 
the bread, we dipped the pieces into the pail ; and 
when the repast was concluded I was completely 
bedaubed with molasses — hands, face, and what little 
apparel still remained upon my person. Still, I must 
confess I enjoyed the edibles, eating as if I never 
expected to obtain another square meal. Upon the 
conclusion of the repast, we were piloted back to the 



''GOOD NIGHT." 1^69 

large flat rock from which we had recently fled, the 
girls returning to the house to procure beds and bed- 
ding, they declaring that we should not sleep upon 
the cold ground while they were able to prevent it. 
In half an hour our guardian angels came back, 
bearing two feather beds and plenty of quilts, under 
which they usually slept, and these being placed 
and smoothed out upon the rock, made the best bed 
I had seen since leaving home, nearly a year before. 
" Tucking us in" and wishing " good night," two of 
the best and prettiest girls in the entire South left 
us to pursue their lonely way through intense dark- 
ness to their home. 

The blue-vaulted sky shone far above us, but 
owing to the abruptness and awful height of the 
mountains on either side of the narrow ravine, but 
little of the firmanent could be seen. As I reposed 
there that night my thoughts constantly reverted to 
my distant home, from which I had not heard since 
my capture — the rebels refusing to deliver to me the 
letters which I knew were regularly sent, regardless 
of expense. But Providence had been gracious to 
me, preserving my life when danger blocked my 
path, and delivering me from many afflictions. Ut- 
tering a silent prayer for the welfare of the good 
friends who had been raised up for me in the wilder- 
ness, and invoking for them Heaven's choicest bless- 
ing, I insensibly sunk into a sweet slumber, from 
which I was not awakened until a bright hour next 
morning, when I saw the two lovely girls standing 
near my bedside. Their faces were luminous as they 



170 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

inquired how we had *' passed the night." They had 
brought with them a warm breakfast, consisting of 
fresh beef, deliciously fried, some pork, bread and 
syrup. We threw our feet out, and sitting upon the 
bed ate a hearty breakfast. Not knowing when we 
should have another opportunity to enjoy such an 
excellent meal, I was selfish enough, as I sat there, 
to wish I could eat enough to last me for a month. 
After breakfast we made our way to the mountain's 
summit, in order to have better chances for observa- 
tion and equal chances with the enemy in case any 
put in an appearance, where we talked with the 
ladies an hour or so, until old Jacob Beaumond came 
over from a neighboring ridge, and said that a large 
force of Confederates were posted on the " Globe," a 
mountain a few miles to the westward. He added, 
that as soon as Bill arrived, he must pilot us away 
from those parts without further delay, as it would 
be '' resky" to longer remain so near the road. 

As Bill did not join us till nearly noon, the girls 
would not consent to our departure until *' after 
dinner," which they returned home to prepare. 
When they came back they were accompanied by 
Mrs. Estes, who apologized for her long absence by 
saying that she had to remain at the house to wait 
upon the old folks and her crippled brother. Before 
leaving these good people, these kind friends, I drew 
up a statement (writing it on blank leaves taken 
from my hard-worn diary), explaining our condition, 
testifying to the devotion of the girls and their 
friends for the Union, and committing them and 



A SORROWFUL PARTING. I/I 

theirs to any Union soldiers who might pass that 
way, and begging our officers to remember their 
people kindly, giving our full names, official rank, 
etc. The girls, to whose keeping the document was 
entrusted, said they would " treasure it forever." 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

A SORROWFUL LEAVE-TAKING. 

DINNER being concluded, we took leave of Bill's 
wife and her two lovely sisters, each being visi- 
bly affected at the separation. Their kindness I shall 
ever remember with the liveliest feelings of gratitude. 
The parting between Bill and his wife was pecuHarly 
touching, as they clung to each other, the good wife 
sobbing audibly at the necessity for another separa- 
tion, which would probably be for a long time — per- 
haps forever. I pitied them from my heart, for the 
sacrifice was simply and solely in the interest of four 
strangers — four Yankees — whom they wished to save 
from a cruel fate. True, Bill might as well go with 
us as to lounge about his native hills (for he had no 
home he dared visit), and he could be of but little 
use to his family, no matter how great their danger. 
We started, Bill carrying his long, heavy rifle at 
a " trail," having the advance. The country here 
and henceforward was of the wildest and most 
romantic character. The houses, which were occa- 
sionally visible in the clearings, were invariably con- 



1/2 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

structed of logs. We marched some five miles over 
the roughest hills I had ever seen, passing through 
one gap thousands of feet high. We looked down 
upon the tops of mighty forests, and often had the 
grandest views to be seen east oi the Sierra Nevadas. 
This day's journey, as many which followed, was 
but a succession of grand panoramic views. 

Late in the afternoon we descended a huge 
mountain, halting at its base, where laurels were 
abundant, and a crystal brook flowed silently by, in 
order to take a needed rest ; to partake of the milk, 
honey and corn-bread which kind-hearted women 
subsequently set before us ; to lie on the moss-cov- 
ered ground beside the gentle stream ; to drink in 
at every pore the delicious inspiration of the pure 
mountain air, and to await the arrival of the Con- 
federate deserters, who, anxious to accompany us, 
had promised to rejoin us at this point. 

Bidding us remain very quiet. Bill moved cau- 
tiously along the roadside, just within the shadow 
of the woods, and shortly afterwards crossed over 
and darted into a house, which he had told us 
was now occupied by the family of his brother — 
the officer whose command we had so successfully 
evaded at Lovelady Ford. Keeping our eyes upon 
the house, we saw an old woman emerge there- 
from and walk slowly towards us, carrying in her 
left hand a pail, while in the other was a stick — her 
inseparable companion. Introducing herself, she 
said that she could not resist the opportunity of 
visiting us, and again shaking hands with her " own 



TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. 173 

eountrymen." But before entering into *' peticke- 
lers," she invited us to partake of some buttermilk, 
which her daughter had just churned. It is need- 
less to say that we each drank heartily of the milk, 
Grant taking so much of the contract that he soon 
after became very ill, vomiting freely. The old 
woman said she had lived in Wisconsin for many 
years, and that several of her children now resided 
near Milwaukie in that State. As this was Captain 
Grant's State, he and the old lady had an interesting 
conversation until the milk, which perhaps had not 
been perfectly churned, began to work again in the 
captain's capacious stomach, producing a very un- 
pleasant sensation in that region. The old lady, 
after sunset, returned to the house, and an hour 
afterwards, when it was quite dark, a young colored 
man, free-born, visited our haunt, saying he had 
been directed to pilot us to the barn, and if we fol- 
lowed him it would be his pleasure to attend us. 
We had been in the barn but a short time when we 
received a visit from the wife of the Confederate 
captain, and several other ladies. 

After a brief conversation, carried on in a low 
tone of voice, we accompanied them to the house, 
where a table spread with many good things greeted 
us. The women extended a hearty welcome, and 
sought to make us forget our ills and feel at home. 
While disposing of the food set before us, the ladies 
took turns in watching the roadway, which was un- 
pleasantly near, fearful of a " surprise" from soldiers 
who were liable to pass at any moment. As the old 



174 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

clock in the chimney corner struck nine, we arose 
from the table, feeling as though we had eaten 
enough to last during our natural lives, and thank- 
ing the ladies for their interest in our behalf, we 
bade them each '' good night," went out into the 
frosty air, and gaining the hay-loft in the barn, 
wrapped ourselves in woollen blankets, kindly 
brought out to us, and slept comfortably till nearly 
daylight, when we were awakened by our hostess, 
whom we at once followed to a secluded nook on 
the steep mountain's side, where she subsequently 
served us with a magnificent breakfast. 

Here we were to await the appearance of Bill 
and the party who had promised to accompany us 
to the Union lines — hundreds of miles distant. 
About the middle of the day we were surprised to 
see a Confederate officer coming through the thicket 
towards us. Our first impulse was to " run," but 
finally becoming satisfied that he had pacific inten- 
tions, we concluded to await his nearer approach. 
When a few yards away, noticing our excited ap- 
pearance, he told us not to disturb ourselves, as 
" Bill " had sent him. He shook our hands warmly, 

introducing himself as First Lieutenant B . He 

was at home on a brief leave of absence, and having 
accidentally learned that we were in his vicinity, 
had called to pay his respects, and ask permission 
to accompany us to our lines. As he disliked de- 
serting his men, he requested us to postpone our 
departure until he returned from " Camp Vance" 
with as many of his command as he could induce 



NOBLE-HEARTED ''JOHNNIESr 1/5 

to come with him. He argued that the men would 
bring their rifles and ammunition with them, and 
thus armed, we should neither suffer from lack of 
game, or fear any straggling parties which might be 
encountered. As singular as it may appear, another 

Confederate officer. Captain L , in full uniform, 

put in an appearance while we were talking. He 
came upon us unawares, and had he dropped from 
the clouds, we would not have been more dumb- 
founded. He laughed when he found that he had 
been able to *' surprise" us, but confessed that he 
had followed tactics not always adopted in modern 
warfare. He joined with his friend, the lieutenant, 
and begged us to wait until they could go back to 
camp and get their companies, when they would 
speedily rejoin us. 

All this was agreeable enough, and we assured 
the officers that this proposition was both fair and 
very kind ; that nothing would be more congenial 
to our feelings were we in a condition to postpone 
our departure ; but being sick and sore, nearly ex- 
hausted by terrible privations and fatigue, and anx- 
ious, above all other things, to proceed homewards, 
we would be compelled to decline the offer. We 
urged these officers to go along with us, but they 
said they could not do so honorably, as their men 
would suffer by their absence. In conclusion, we 
told them that we should be guided in all our move- 
ments by *' Bill," but that he would not be back 
until dark. The captain and lieutenant said they 
hoped to meet us again, but in case they were un- 



176 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

able to do so, we would have their best wishes on 
the long and perilous journey before us. They 
pressed our hands quite warmly, and departing, 
were soon lost to our view in the heavy thicket of 
laurels which surrounded us. 

At sunset our hearts were made happy at see- 
ing '' Bill " and thirteen others approach. The party 
had three rifles, four Colt's six-shooters and several 
shot-guns loaded with buckshot. Anxious to get 
away, we urged " Bill " to move forward, fearful that 
our whereabouts must sooner or later become known 
to the wrong party. He said a start would soon be 
made, but it would hardly be fair to leave without 
seeing his brother, the captain, who was now at 
home, and would shortly visit us. True enough, 
after dark, the veritable captain came, saw and con- 
quered. This rebel chieftain, whose name had been 
our greatest terror at one time, in order to evade 
whom we had tramped many weary miles and 
passed sleepless nights, now stood before us. More, 
he came to us staggering under the weight of edi- 
bles — meat, bread, potatoes, etc., insisting upon our 
acceptance thereof. Entering into conversation, he 
said that his *' scouts" had seen us cross the Ca- 
tawba river, and that they would in all likelihood 
have overtaken us that rainy night had they pos- 
sessed any means of crossing the river. He told us 
that his chief duty was to scour the mountains for 
*' deserters." " I do this," said he, "in the daytime, 
and at night I am generally with the boys. Of 
course they know enough to keep out of my sight 



A NO THER START FOR GOD' S CO UN TRY. 1 77 

during the day, which makes it exceedingly difficult 
for me to catch them. The war is nearly over, 
thank God, and it is about time for us mountaineers 
to forget our animosities and bury our bloody 
hatchets. I saw all I care to see in Virginia, and 
although I have been ordered there again, I shall 
take good care not to go. General Sherman is over- 
running Georgia, and in a few days he will be in pos- 
session of Charleston. With the entire seaboard 
lost to the Confederacy, what is left?" The cap- 
tain, while expressing his regret at not being able 
to accompany us, said he would be happy to aid us 
in every way possible. He raised our drooping 
spirits by predicting that we would be able to reach 
the Union lines, although it might be necessary to 
go on as far as Chattanooga. Thanking the gallant 
captain for his great kindnesses to us, we embraced 
him, and sorrowfully ascended the mountain, march- 
ing as rapidly as possible until after midnight, when, 
the weather being quite cold, the wind blowing 
strongly from the north-east, we halted and went 
into bivouac, passing a very uncomfortable night. 

The gallant men now with us were the very ones 
whom, while wading through the swamps of South 
Carolina, we had expected to meet on reaching the 
mountains. Comrades in prison had told me of the 
loyalty of the people of Western North Carolina 
and Eastern Tennessee, and at last, after many 
weary days, we were in their very midst. From this 
time forward we experienced little trouble in finding 
" friends," for they were everywhere. In Caldwell 



178 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

County, where we first met " little Joe," I associated 
with hundreds of this class, and had from their lips 
the story of their bitter life — a life full of peril and 
sublime heroism. These men were boon compan- 
ions with another class, called *' lyers-out," who, 
living in caves and other retreats in the mountains, 
had resisted the conscriptions of the rebel authori- 
ties through two years and more of vicissitudes and 
suffering. In all my wanderings I had never seen a 
more intelligerrt or determined people. Mingling 
with them, as I did for weeks, I thought of the brave 
defenders of the Tyrol, of the hardy Waldenses, 
fighting and dying among the hills for dear Liberty's 
sake. Although but poorly armed, with old-fash- 
ioned heavy rifles and ,old horse pistols and squirrel 
guns as their only weapons of defence, they had 
often defeated and kept at bay the forces sent 
against them. Many of these ** lyers-out," before 
the war, were in comfortable circumstances, possess- 
ing pleasant and profitable farms, but the rebellion 
and its dreadful consequences had reduced them to 
their present wretched condition, many of them 
being utterly penniless. Thousands of these poor 
men, I was assured, had been compelled to abandon 
everything, their wives and children, as well as prop- 
erty, because of their devotion to the Government, 
under which they had been blessed with unexam- 
pled prosperity. While these brave men were thus 
exiled, their courageous, true-hearted wives per- 
formed every drudgery, working the land, and often, 
under the darkness of night, carrying food surrep- 



A WELCOME GUEST. l8l 

titiously to their loved ones hiding in the clefts of 
the mountains. 

With daylight also came a cold rain-storm, 
which admonished us to hasten on, eating as we 
proceeded. Not a word was uttered, silence and 
caution being essential to the success of our under- 
taking. Noontime found us flanking the settlement 
at Wilson Creek, all thoroughly soaked and suffering 
greatly from the cold and piercing winds. Observ- 
ing an untenanted house in an open field we took 
possession, and a few minutes afterwards a blazing 
fire conduced to our comfort, enabling us to warm 
our shivering bodies and dry our apparel, together 
with the blankets our friends had wisely brought 
with them. It rained incessantly day and night, 
flooding the valley, and rendering a resumption of 
our journey very difficult, if not impossible for a 
time. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

A WELCOME GUEST. 

ABOUT the middle of the afternoon we were 
thrown into one of those alarms which had now 
become periodical. On the summit of a bold moun- 
tain in front of the house, half a mile and more dis- 
tant, we saw four armed men, clad in gray, bobbing 
suspiciously about from tree to tree. None of our 
party were able to recognize the strangers, whose 
conduct was inexplicable. If they only numbered 



1 82 FAST AND LOOSE tN DIXIE. 

four, we felt competent to get away with them ; but 
it might be that a force was near them, in which 
case discretion would be the better part of valor, 
and the approaching night would arrive none too 
soon to aid us in a retrograde movement. 

Determined to ascertain who the new-comers 
might be, " Bill " seized his rifle and advanced 
towards the base of the hill, which he had no sooner 
reached, than the strangers descended rapidly to 
where he stood, and a moment afterwards the entire 
party were walking in our direction. The new- 
comers, stalwart fellows, were headed by SiMEON 
Philyaw, a noted and daring scout of the Union 
army, who was armed with a Henry rifle and two of 
Colt's navy revolvers. " Sim," as he was familiarly 
called, gave us the latest news from the front. He 
had, he said, "just run up over the mountains to see 
the folks for a few days." On being assured that 
his mother and sister were well, and that he could 
do greater service by piloting our party over the 
mountains to Bull Gap, which he declared to be 
occupied by General Gillem, he consented to forego 
his prospective pleasures at home, and accompany 
us. " Sim" manifested an especial liking for me, and 
in language more forcible than polite, said he would 
procure a horse for me to ride, as I could never get 
through barefooted. He and a North Carolinian con- 
sulted together a few moments, then declared their 

intention of paying a visit to ** Widow P ," who 

lived a few miles beyond the settlement. She was a 
bitter secessionist, and had contributed liberally to 



A DANGEROUS ERRAND. 1 83 

aid those who fought for the Confederacy, her boast 
being that she had two sons in the Southern army, 
and her only wish was that their number was legion. 
It would do no harm to take a horse or two from 
her ; and, besides, when we got through with the 
animals, they could be readily disposed of and the 
proceeds divided among the party. Although the 
storm continued with unabated violence, and the 
night was intensely dark, these gallant fellows 
started off to procure me a hat, or shoes, or a 
*' hoss," promising to return by daylight, if all went 
well : if prevented from doing this, they would re- 
join us somewhere on Grandfather Mountain. Al- 
though I had suffered a great deal for the want of 
hat and shoes, and would cheerfully have given my 
check on any bank in New Jersey for a liberal sum 
to obtain these indispensable articles, I deeply re- 
gretted to see these brave men go off, on a dismal 
night, on such a dangerous errand, for I knew they 
would incur great personal danger, perhaps death. 

The North Carolinians with us told off the 
*' guards," formed them in " reliefs," posted the sen- 
tries where they could best hear the approach of an 
enemy or friend, those remaining stretching them- 
selves upon the kitchen floor, where we slept peace- 
fully until daybreak, when we hurried away, the 
people in the *' settlement" being ignorant of our 
departure. While most of the people residing along 
the creek could be safely trusted with our secrets, 
there were some who would have been happy in 
betraying us to the enemy. I disliked to proceed 



1 84 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

without my friends, who had not yet returned, but 
the necessity of our getting to a safer point be- 
ing strongly urged, we soon after began the ascent 
of Grandfather Mountain, whose rugged summit was 
5,560 feet high. The wind blew strongly from the 
north-west, which rendered our task of climbing no 
easy matter. Pressing onward and upward, we suc- 
ceeded shortly after meridian in reaching and stand- 
ing upon the summit of the mighty monarch. Here, 
thousands of feet above the plains we had so gladly 
left a few days previous, we enjoyed a crystal at- 
mosphere. It was a region compared to which the 
White Mountains seemed dwarfed and insignificant, 
for through an extent of several hundred miles, height 
after height towered in solemn magnificence. But 
as this was a trip for life itself, rather than for pleas- 
ure, I turned but for a moment to gaze upon the 
sublime spectacle afforded. A grand view of parts 
of Caldwell and Wilkes counties was to be had from 
the giddy point upon which we stood. 

Proceeding along upon the range, after an hour's 
wearisome marching we reached a log cabin in the 
midst of a small clearing. A tall, lean, and sickly 
old man, clad in a homespun pair of trousers and a 
flax shirt, courteously greeted us. The housewife, 
we found upon entering the habitation, was smoking 
a corn-cob pipe, and sitting on a rude three-legged 
stool, rather disconsolately, before the fireplace 
warming her thin hands. The furnishings were of a 
meagre character. The woman gave us some but- 
termilk, with which we were '^ filling up" whan our 



A SUCCESSFUL HA ID. 1 85 

hearts were made glad by the return of my two 
friends, who came galloping across the open space, 
yelling like Comanches, drawing rein only on reach- 
ing the door of the cabin. One was mounted upon 
a young bay horse, while the other was astride of a 
mule which looked as if he might be between one 
and two hundred years of age. Dismounting and 
fastening the animals in rear of the cabin, out 01 
the wintry blast, they entered the humble abode, 
and while warming their feet and partaking of a 
lunch, related the story of their thrilling adventures. 
After leaving us at the ** settlement" the pre- 
vious evening, they in due time reached the farm 
of the widow in question, and were naturally sur- 
prised on finding her two sons " at home." Noth- 
ing daunted, and determined on success, they re- 
solved to allow no impediment to interfere with their 
well-laid plans. Making a careful reconnoissance of 
the premises, and waiting until the last light in the 
house was doused and " everything quiet as the 
grave," they finally brought up at the stable, the 
door of which, to their great dismay and disappoint- 
ment, was fastened with a large lock and chain. 
Nothing of this kind had been anticipated, for 
stable doors in that region were seldom locked. 
While seeking about the premises for an axe, or 
other implement with which to break the fastening 
upon the strongly battened door, two large dogs 
suddenly sprang at them, barking furiously, and at- 
tempting to grapple the two men by the throat. 
They could have shot the infuriated canines, but 



1 86 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

feared to do so, lest the occupants of the house 
should be alarmed, and the object of the expedition 
rendered abortive. By desperate efforts they man- 
aged to keep the brutes at arm's-length, meanwhile 
beating a retreat — their faces continually towards 
the foe, which finally wearying of the chase, returned 
homewards, stopping now and then to bark as a sort 
of defiance. With no intention of being thwarted, 
the tw^o gallant fellows waited and watched, and 
when things again became quiet, retraced their 
steps to the barn, and while crossing the yard heard 
the winnowing of a horse. For a moment their 
hearts stood still. The discovery was important, so 
they carefully made an examination of the premises, 
and finding a young horse and a mule sheltered 
under a shed, and concluding they could do no bet- 
ter, searched about until they found a bridle and a 
halter, when, bitting the animals and springing upon 
them, they galloped away through the valley, which 
was '' dark as the shadow of death." They rode 
fifteen miles before daylight, and reached us on the 
mountain as before stated. 

Now that our two friends had joined us, we 
continued the tramp, Lewis riding the colt, and 
putting on all the airs of a staff-officer on a review, 
while I, astride the mule, which evidently was a pas- 
senger in the ark, followed slowly in the rear. To- 
wards night we reached the humble home of a Bap- 
tist minister named Prickett, a storm of wind and 
rain and sleet nearly blinding us. The typical 
woman of the mountains, tall and thin, but kind and 



A WELCOME IN THE WILDERNESS. 18/ 

graceful, the mother of a dozen children, most of 
whom stood ranged around her like white-headed 
notes in the scale of love, welcomed us in the ab- 
sence of her husband, who was " out looking at the 
traps." Very simple were the appointments of this 
cabin. The bare, rough floor shone, however, so 
clean it was ; the old spinning wheel, with the flax 
hanging to it, stood in a corner beside the only bed, 
while near the only door in the cabin, was a com- 
modious fireplace, and great pine-logs blazing there- 
on. 

Our entire party crowded into the main apart- 
ment, the wind, intensely cold and blowing a hurri- 
cane across the bald top of the mountain, render- 
ing such a step necessary. I had long felt a certain 
sense of pity for my own sad condition, but when I 
entered the wretched abode of that poor family and 
saw their destitution, I thanked Providence for rich 
mercies vouchsafed to me. Not a chair, table, 
stove, or dishes were anywhere visible, the only 
cheerful thing within that hut being the smiling face 
of our hostess, and the blazing knots upon the mud 
hearth. 

By and by, Mr. Prickett, the husband, and the 
father of the white-haired cherubs, returned. He 
greeted each of us warmly, and bade his good wife 
lose no time in baking all the corn-meal in tne house 
into " pones," to be divided among the party. He 
regretted that he had no meat — the last bit of veni- 
son having been eaten at the morning repast. Some 
of our party having a craving for meat, started off 



1 88 FA ST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

to hunt for some, and an hour afterwards returned, 
carrying upon the shoulders of two men, a huge 
black bear, which they had killed near an old saw- 
mill, a mile or so away. Great was our rejoicing 
when the dead animal was brought in and depos- 
ited upon the floor. In a remarkably short time the 
carcass had been skinned and five fat steaks were 
frying before the fire. The rich savor greeted my 
olfactory organs in a pleasant manner, and went far 
towards satisfying my craving appetite. I had never 
been educated to eat fat meat, and was afraid it was 
" too late to learn." But the moment the first 
steaks were transferred from the skillet to an iron 
receptacle (answering the purposes of a platter), I 
was pressingly invited to *' try a piece" — all present 
refusing to partake until myself and three Yankee 
companions had been amply supplied. Tasting of 
the meat, and finding it tender and sweet (closely 
resembling fresh pork), I managed to dispose of the 
portion given me, together with all that was sub- 
sequently set before me. The task of cooking in 
a small skillet for three or four dozen half-starved 
men, was a tedious and tiresome process, but it was 
at last successfully accomplished, each man having 
had his *' fill." 

While the men were masticating the *' bar," the 
master of the cabin and myself filled and lighted 
brown clay pipes, and entered into conversation. 
Mr. Prickett said that himself, sons and brothers, 
for their adherence to the cause of the Union, had 
not only suffered the loss of their worldly posses- 



BAREFOOTED IN THE SNOW. 1 89 

slons, but had been compelled to endure many in- 
dignities and privations in the country below. Es- 
caping from the wrath of enraged neighbors, he and 
his family had succeeded in reaching the mountain 
range, where, while they had but few comforts, they 
could live in comparative security. He regretted 
his house was insufficient to afford us shelter from 
the inclement weather, but we could go to the 
*' Rock House," two miles away, where we would 
be quite sure to find two of his sons " lyers-out," 
who had occupied the place for nearly two years. 
The *' Rock," he said, would afford us some shelter, 
the best to be found on the mountain. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

BAREFOOTED IN THE SNOW. 

WHEN nearly ready to depart, the wind had 
increased in violence, blowing so strongly 
that the trees were lashed against each other in great 
fury. I shuddered at the thought of soon being 
compelled to leave the cheerful fire and obliged to 
breast the tempest, but there was no alternative — it 
must be done. One of our party entering the cabin, 
as we were getting ready to leave, was covered with 
snow, which he said had just commenced falling. 
My heart sank within me, as in gazing out of the 
door, I saw the large fleecy flakes descending and 



190 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

flying through the troubled air. It was with abso- 
lute terror that 

" I stood and watched 
The noiseless work of the sky. 
And the sudden flurries of snow-birds, 
Like brown leaves whirling by." 

What would now become of me ? What should I 
now do? True, I had a mule on which I could ride, 
but without a covering for my head, with only an 
old red flannel shirt and torn and threadbare blouse, 
and a dilapidated pair of blue pants reaching only 
to the knees, which I had worn without change for 
many months, how would I be able to endure the 
terrible exposures which certainly must follow a 
continuance of the journey? 

On leaving the cabin, Mrs. Prickett insisted upon 
my accepting the skin recently taken from the bear. 
She said it would assist in keeping me warm, and 
when dried, answer very well for a coat. I gratefully 
accepted the skin, although it was wet and quite 
heavy, and placing it upon the mule's back, was as- 
sisted thereon. In this way I was conveyed to the 
*' Rock House," which we reached in due time, al- 
though the night was as black as Erebus. What a 
situation for men to be in ! And yet there was no 
murmuring, although I could plainly see that many 
of the brave fellows with us moved about in no 
pleasant mood. As they had less at stake than our- 
selves, I was fearful they would, if the storm con- 
tinued to rage, refuse to proceed farther on the 



A ROCK HOUSE. I9I 

journey. This gave me more concern than my own 
suffering. 

The '* Rock House," so called, was not what I 
had expected to find it. There was about it no re- 
semblance to a house. The name was a misnomer. 
It was a monster rock, some seventy-five feet high, 
the top leaning gently towards the south, affording 
on that side a sort of shelter from the rain or wind. 
It was open at the base, and under the overhanging 
shelf, as it were, we pitched our camp. Gathering 
a large quantity of fuel, to be had in abundance, we 
speedily had a bright cheerful fire, before which 
most of the party stretched themselves for rest and 
sleep. I never experienced a more terrible night : 
it was far worse and I more miserable than when I 
lay in the rays of a tropical sun under the scaffold in 
the filthy jail-yard at Charleston — a hostage for the 
safety of Confederate prisoners who had been brought 
by our authorities to James Island, when it was as- 
certained that the rebels had placed us under the 
fire of our own guns in the pestilential city. The 
tempest was awfully wild, snapping the locusts like 
paper twine, and prostrating great oaks and pines. 
Sitting near the great fire, unable to sleep, I uttered : 

"Come, sleep, O sleep, the certain knot of peace, 

The baiting place of wit, the balm of woe. 
The poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release, 

The indifferent judge between the high and low, 
With shield of proof, shield me from out the prease 

Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw ; 
O, make these civil wars to cease : 

I will good tribute pay, if thou do so !" 



IQ2 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

But no ** sleep, gentle sleep," closed my eyes that 
night. One of the Carolinians awaking and noticing 
my misery, insisted on my sharing his blanket with 
him, and, to keep from perishing, I at last crawled 
under it, with nothing but a stone for a pillow. 
While lying there, I imagined all sorts of things — 
particularly that snakes were crawling from under 
the rock towards the fire, and this, with the active 
offensive operations of the lice with which my 
scanty apparel swarmed, made me exceedingly rest- 
less. As my blood became warm, the confounded 
vermin sallied out, making a dead-set upon the 
warmest part of my person. They knew just where 
to go. Lately I had been troubled but little with 
the varmints, owing to the cold weather, being wil- 
ling to freeze a little, if such exposure would have 
the effect of killing them off; but I finally gave up 
the undertaking, as I was convinced, after several 
such attempts, that they could stand the cold i?tuch 
better than myself. I remained under the blanket 
as long as the punishment was to be endured, but 
when I found that I was likely to lose what little 
blood still remained in my emaciated body, I resolved 
to get up and sit by the fire, where, at least, I could 
partially punish the lice, even though I was made to 
suffer in a corresponding manner. While thus en- 
gaged, one side of my person would be roasting, 
while the other side was freezing. 

How the wind howled ! how the snow-flakes 
flew past ! often driven under the rock upon the 
weary sleepers, causing more than one of our party 



A NIGHT OF HORRORS. 1 93 

great uneasiness. Would the morning never break ? 
I asked myself a thousand times. There I sat be- 
side that fire — at times piling on logs, anon scratch- 
ing furiously, to drive back the swarms of vermin, 
rendering my flesh raw and causing it to bleed at 
every pore. I was sorely tempted to remove my 
shirt and shake off the vermin, but refrained from so 
doing, lest I should be unable to get it on again — it 
was so rotten. Oh, how much I now needed the old 
blue vest which I had given to 'Mittle Joe!" but 
then he had taken such a fancy to the buttons, and 
I had nothing else to give him. I had no idea that 
I should ever need it so badly, never having dreamed 
that before reaching the Union lines, I would be ex- 
posed to all the horrors of a snow-storm on a bleak 
and desolate mountain, which almost touched the 
sky. We had imagined that crossing the mountain 
before us was a comparatively easy task, and that 
on descending we should enter a beautiful valley 
— the promised land of peace, flowing with milk 
and honey, where kind friends awaited us. But 
what a fatal mistake! Hundreds of miles still had 
to be traversed, giddy heights ascended, dangerous 
rivers crossed, before we should reach the haven of 
our heart's fondest desire. 

The dreadful memories of that night will never 
leave me. There I sat, hour after hour, in an in- 
hospitable waste, thousands of feet above the sea's 
level, on a tempestuous night» hungry and almost 
naked, with threescore men, comparative strangers, 
at one time deadly enemies, whose condition was 



194 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

but little better than my own. Perhaps these same 
men, in whom we now so fondly trusted, in whom 
we placed so many hopes, would desert us on the 
morrow — leaving us to a cruel fate. What could 
we hope to do alone in such a wilderness without 
money or weapons ? What reason had we to think 
that if left to our resources we could cross those 
dreary ranges and reach our army in safety ? My 
brain reeled as I thougrht of the difficulties to be en- 
countered, of the obstacles to be overcome, ere we 
should accomplish the object for which we risked so 
much when we jumped from a train of cars in the 
Palmetto State. 

To aid in driving away my ennui, I kept the logs 
burning brightly, there being no danger of discovery, 
for who would be abroad on the mountain's top on 
such a night ? The wind continued to liowl mourn^i 
fully — the snow falling in blinding sheets. Besides, 
we were not likely to be seen, for a few feet beyond 
the fire it was dark as pitch. 

I had almost forgotten to say that on arriving at 
the **Rock" we found the two sons of Mr. Prickett. 
Loving the '* old government," they had determined 
to suffer everything rather than enter the Confed- 
erate service, which was so repugnant to their feel- 
ings and their education. So far they had been 
able to successfully elude those sent to effect their 
capture or their death, although they had had many 
narrow escapes. With the rifles which they con- 
tinually carried, they had obtained food with but. 
little trouble, game being abundant. Ammunition 



A MUTINY. 195 

being difficult to obtain, they were careful in its 
expenditure, never wasting a shot on a deer, bear, 
panther, or a bushwhacker. Tired of the life they 
were leading, they would have to bide the end of 
the war, when, if all was well, they would rejoin the 
old folks and live in peace. They seldom visited 
their parents, fearful of compromising their safety. 

Daylight came at last, but brought little with it 
to encourage us. The men, greatly disheartened at 
the prospect before them, rolled their blankets in 
silence, and after eating more of the bear-meat and 
corn-bread, started away from the shelter of the 
rock in no enviable mood. The North Carolinians 
were leaving everything ** near and dear," while 
every step taken placed us nearer our homes and 
those we loved so well. The walking was heavy 
and very disagreeable — even the mule laboring hard 
in getting through, sometimes slipping and sliding 
and stumbling, rendering it difficult for me to retain 
my seat. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

A MUTINY AMONG THE DESERTERS. 

THE climax, which I had dreaded through the 
night, was reached at about ten o'clock in the 
forenoon, when the party halted, positively refusing 
to proceed farther. The ground was now covered 
with six or seven inches of snow. Todd, Lewis, 
Grant, and myself importuned the Carolinians to con- 



ig6 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

tinue on, at least until the Cumberland valley was 
in sight, promising to reward them when we were 
able. We appealed to them to stand by us in this 
hour of our extremity, arguing that they would be 
quite as well off in one place as another. Our lives 
depended on our getting home. After a delay of 
some two hours, the party concluded to accede to 
our repeated requests, and made another start — in 
better spirits, if possible, than they had been at any 
previous time. 

During the afternoon we diverged from the true 
course, in order to look at " Little Lost Cove," a 
great natural curiosity. The cavern, they told us, 
was more than three thousand feet deep. A silence, 
not of gloom, but of reverence, seemed to fall upon 
us as we overlooked it. Rolling large boulders into 
the cavity, to listen to the awful reverberations 
which they made as they tumbled down its sides 
and dashed to the bottom, gave me much pleasure. 
Here were virgin rocks upon which no pestiferous 
quack has painted his shameless sign, precipices 
which had not been invaded by the grand tour, 
whose solitary magnificence thrills and impresses 
you, as if in some barren land you came upon the 
brilliant lustre of a priceless diamond. It was while 
standing here that the weather suddenly cleared, 
affording us magnificent views for seventy-five miles 
and more. The appearance of the sun raised our 
hopes and cheered us to renewed efforts. 



A BATTLE ABOVE THE CLOUDS. I97 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

A BATTLE ABOVE THE CLOUDS. 

WHILE proceeding along on the terrible height, 
our party was thrown into a state of great 
excitement at seeing a man, clad in a strange garb, 
hastening towards us. The stranger, who proved to 
be Harrison Aldrich, and reputed, at that time, 
to be the best shot in the South, was warmly wel- 
comed, his presence being an additional safeguard. 
Aldrich gave us the particulars of a battle which 
had taken place the previous day, a few miles from 
Crab Orchard. He said that Lieutenant James 
Hartley, of the Third North Carolina Mounted 
(Union) Infantry, who was up in the mountains on 
recruiting service, on learning that his brother, Cap- 
tain Hartley, in corqmand of a company of bush- 
whackers, had been ordered to proceed to Saltville, 
Virginia, determined to attack him, and with this in 
view, gathered a dozen Unionists and prepared an 
ambush for the Confederates. 

Lieutenant Hartley was advised of his rebel 
brother's movements by a young lady, who not 
only had the cause of the Union at heart, but who 
loved the gallant lieutenant with an intense passion. 
The thirteen or fourteen Unionists took an advan- 
tageous position on the side of a hill commanding 
the road along which the Confederate company was 
certain to march, and there patiently awaited the 



198 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

approach of a foe who had been a terror to the loy- 
aHsts in that section. The Confederate leader, at the 
head of his command, finally came in sight, march- 
ing unconsciously along, not dreaming that danger 
lurked in his mountain path. When he had reached 
the forest from which he could best be attacked, the 
gallant Union lieutenant, who had been watching 
the advancing enemy from a covert on the moun- 
tain's side, stepped out, and in a voice which made 
the grand old woods ring, cried '' Halt ! " The 
explosion of a two hundred pound shell at the feet 
of the Confederate captain would not have caused 
him greater surprise. Instinctively he and his men 
obeyed the dread command, which had no uncertain 
sound, and turning his eyes upward in the direction 
from whence it had proceeded, the leader saw his 
own brother — for the first tinie since the latter had 
left his home to do what in his power lay for a gov- 
ernment that he had ever loved with patriotic fervor. 
Livid with rage, the Confederate captain levelled 
his rifle and — fired, the bullet, correctly aimed, 
doing no further damage than to pass through the 
Union lieutenant's cap. *'Jim" Hartley — a dead 
shot — could have easily killed his brother in his 
tracks, without a word of warning, but his chivalric 
nature revolted against so cowardly a proceeding. 
Standing there in all the grandeur of his manhood, 
without '* cover," he summoned the Confederates to 
" surrender ;" but laughing him to scorn, and with 
shouts that caused the mountains to echo, they 
promptly deployed along on the side of the opposite 



BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER. 1 99 

hill, each man quickly securing a tree, rock, or stump 
as a " cover," determined to fight to the bitter end, 
and, if possible, teach the loyalists a lesson that they 
would never forget. 

Young Hartley saw these dispositions, yet he 
remained, like a statue, disdaining to avail himself 
of any undue advantage. Forbearance, however, no 
longer being a virtue, but a sign of pusillanimity, and 
the Unionists chafing under their leader's restraint, 
now opened fire — the battle among the clouds com- 
mencing in earnest. 

The unequal contest raged for hours, and often 
above the sharp crack of the rifle could be heard 
the coarse voices of the baffled Confederates uttering 
vile imprecations against the " renegades and Yan- 
kees.'' The small band of Unionists, fighting for 
everything near and dear, kept close behind their 
*' cover," not deeming it advisable to offer any more 
of their persons as a mark for the Confederate rifle- 
men than was absolutely necessary. The battle, 
however, was not to the strong ; and the Confeder- 
ates finding themselves worsted throughout, with no 
signs of exhaustion on the part of the loyalists, 
finally beat a retreat — leaving eight poor fellows 
dead where they fell. It was subsequently ascer- 
tained that some twenty others were wounded. 

But one Unionist was injured, he, a member of 
Lieutenant Hartley's regiment, having been shot 
through the arm, near the shoulder. I met both 
Hartley and this wounded soldier a couple of days 
after this. 



200 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

Aldrich took an active part in the engagement 
above recorded, and doubtless rendered efficient aid. 
He never joined either army, preferring to roam his 
native mountains at " his own sweet will and pleas- 
ure." His sympathies, however, were ever with the 
cause of the Union. He was the impersonation of 
a mountaineer. His large, noble head was covered 
with a coon-skin cap, his body enrobed in panther's 
skins, his feet encased in moccasins — each article 
being his own handiwork. In a belt which snugly 
encircled his waist, was a huge hunting-knife and an 
eight-inch navy revolver. His rifle, a long-barrelled, 
heavy weapon, was like a toy in his brawny hands. 

At one point it became necessary to cross a 
frightful precipice, the span, or natural bridge, made 
all the more dangerous by the ice and snow, being 
only wide enough for a courageous man to walk 
over. The party had crossed over in safety — all 
save the mule and horse, which brought up in the 
rear. " Bill " awaited me on the opposite side of the 
*' gulch," and advised me to ** stick to the critter," 
which would be certain to cross in safety. My 
nerves were considerably unstrung as I gazed down 
into the fearful chasm which yawned so boldly before 
me. The old mule, as I urged him to the brink, low- 
ered his great long head to the rock, his eyes care- 
fully scanning the narrow pathway, then moved 
slowly forward, as cautiously as I had seen trained 
elephants in circus rings step over the prostrate 
form of their keepers. A slip of his unshod hoofs 
would have terminated our further usefulness, but 



GRAND PANORAMIC VIEWS. 20I 

as good luck would have it, we crossed the frightful 
abyss in safety, for which I was devoutly thankful. 

Shortly after our party had an interesting time 
of it in descending the range, which was only accom- 
plished with vast difficulty. The men slipped and 
slid many yards at a time, and narrowly escaped bad 
falls against trees and rocks. I did not exactly see 
how the mule could get to the bottom in safety, but 
I made up my mind he must try ; so at it he went — 
accomplishing most of the distance by going down 
sideways. At times he gained such momentum that 
I feared we would both be crushed against the trees, 
but somehow or other, he dexterously managed to 
elude them. The mule seemed to have as much 
wisdom in directing his movements as some of the 
men who had preceded us, and who now stood at 
the foot of the hill, laughing at his curious efforts. 

I was glad to reach the foot of the mountain, for 
it was very much warmer there. I could hear the 
cold winds whistling far above us. Here we found 
a great forest of sugar-maple trees, and by and by 
we came to what had once been a thriving sugar- 
maple mill or distillery, but was now in a dilapidated 
state, everything about the place having gone to 
ruin. The day's journey had been a succession of 
grand panoramic views of gorge and height. Some 
of the party favored stopping at the mill for the 
night, but it was finally decided to continue on until 
darkness prevented traveling. Following a path 
cut out of a mountain's steep side, we saw, hundreds 
of feet below, the tops of tall pines and spruces. 



202 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

Not a human habitation was to be seen, and there 
was no sign of life save when a grouse, rabbit, or 
deer sprang across the track. At dusk we reached 
a small valley, nestling between giant hills, through 
which a creek flowed rapidly, and whose outlet was 
found between two mountains towering thousands 
of feet above us ; and there finding a rude, though 
commodious cabin, we stopped to obtain rations, and 
rest and sleep. 

Mr. Banner, a somewhat aged gentleman, who 
came to the door in answer to our summons, looked 
us over intently for some moments before he re- 
sponded to our polite salutation, then he greeted 
us heartily. Bidding his wife and daughters prepare 
"something to eat," he directed a son to conduct 
the party to the barn, and while Todd, Lewis, Grant, 
and myself were enjoying his hospitality at the 
family table, our friends were eating heartily upon 
the floor of the barn, food having been sent to 
them there. The courteous old gentleman made 
many inquiries concerning the North and our 
army, and regarded our flight from Charleston as a 
matter in which Providence had had a direct hand. 
By and by the family came into the main room for 
*' evening prayers," when the devout old moun- 
taineer took down a well-worn Bible, and opening 
at the Psalms, read, in an impressive manner, and 
with occasional quaint expoundings, one or two 
selections. After this he took up an old hymn-book, 
and rising, with a tallow candle in his hand, read a 
hymn, the good old wife and children singing line 



PETITIONS TO HEAVEN. 203 

by line as he gave them out. They sang in quaver- 
ing, high-pitched voices, to the same tunes which 
were doubtless heard when the country round about 
there was crimsoned by the Indians. The echoes 
of the hymn had no sooner died away, than the old 
man, dropping upon his knees, engaged in a prayer 
of earnestness and power, marked here and there 
by glowing sentences, which made us bow our heads 
in reverence, for our good friend prayed for us and 
for our continued preservation on our long and dan- 
gerous journey. His fervent petitions deeply af- 
fected us. Another hymn was lined, and at length 
the family withdrew, leaving us in the apartment 
alone. Presently, however, our kind host reap- 
peared, saying that he would share the room with 
us, which he did ; we slept tranquilly until six 
o'clock the next morning, when we were awakened 
for breakfast, the most palatable meal I had enjoyed 
for a long time. After eating heartily we thanked 
the farmer, and marched away, carrying with us the 
happiest recollections of our visit to his hearthstone. 
The weather continued intensely cold, rendering 
it necessary for those who had blankets to wear them 
over their shoulders, which gave our party quite a 
banditti-looking appearance. It was rough walking 
through the untrodden snow, which in some places 
had formed into drifts. Here and there the country 
possessed features of the most romantic nature. 
Sometimes, looking down, we could see the tree tops 
in a valley below us, and a humble cabin, with cob- 
house, granary, and cattle-pen, nestling close by a 



204 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

tiny brook. We continued climbing over the great 
ranges, making our way slowly, yet surely, towards 
the elevated gap, through which we were to enter 
the most patriotic and most loyal, as well as most 
dangerous portion of Eastern Tennessee. Every 
turn in the angular route brought a new vista of 
gorgeous mountains. Sometimes the hill-sides were 
so steep that I preferred dismounting rather than 
take the risk of losing my balance. On, on we went, 
climbing up and up, until we reached some of the 
peaks and could see the bald patches where the 
rocks stood out in the light. 

The afternoon was waning, and yet ** Sim" had 
planned that we should spend the coming night in 
Tennessee. While trudging along our weary way 
through the deep snow we suddenly met two young 
men, clad in the full-dress uniform of the Union 
soldier, each carrying a repeating rifle across his 
saddle-bow. They belonged to the Thirteenth Ten- 
nessee (Union) Cavalry. I never greeted men more 
warmly in my life. They shook hands with us, and 
our hearts were lightened by converse. I could not 
help contrasting their condition with my own. They 
were warmly clothed in blue^ and wore great-coats 
and heavy high-topped cavalry boots, which I much 
coveted, but which it was impossible for me to ob- 
tain. They said our troops were encamped at Bull 
Gap, from which place they had recently come, and 
it would be to our advantage to make that our ob- 
jective point, instead of Cumberland Gap, which was 
much farther away, and more difficult to reach. I 



CRAB ORCHARD REACHED. 20/ 

felt as if new life had been given me after seeing and 
talking with these soldiers, and, in fact, the entire 
party was stimulated to renewed exertion. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

A FRIENDLY SETTLEMENT REACHED. 

JUST as night was setting in, we descended a pro- 
digious mountain by an old roadway, and entered 
what was known as "■ Crab Orchard," East Tennes- 
see. This settlement contained a score and more 
of houses, inhabited solely by women — the men sel- 
dom venturing to visit their homes because of the 
frequent and unexpected incursions of the Confeder- 
ates. The valley, not more than three-fourths of a 
mile in width, ran southward five or six miles, and 
was surrounded on all sides by mountains which 
towered high above it. Learning that the '' or- 
chard " boasted a tannery, I hastened to the old 
building pointed out to me, and made diligent 
search for a piece of leather, but could find none ; so I 
rejoined the party, which had stopped at Mr. Buck's, 
a mile or so down the valley. Mr. Buck, like all 
the men-folk, was absent from home, having a pic- 
nic all by himself on the snow-covered height back 
of his house ; but his two pretty and amiable 
daughters told us to help ourselves to such of the 
cattle as we might want. Accordingly, a fine fat 
beeve was killed in a trice, and almost before I 



208 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

was aware of it, the process of skinning the animal 
was well under way. When pieces of the slaughtered 
cow were distributed among our party, they moved 
towards a mountain in front of the house, where 
they were to pass the night in a cave or an old build- 
ing, whichever might best answer their purposes — 
taking the mule and colt along with them. 

'* Bill " escorted Todd, Lewis, Grant, and myself 
down the valley over the ice-coated road, in order 
to obtain better quarters, if such were procurable. 
Coming to a neat-looking house, Lewis and myself 
left the road and knocked at the door, and receiving 
no response, although we knew the people were at 
home, we entered. Two little girls, on seeing us 
enter in such an unceremonious manner, hastily 
crawled under a bed out of sight, while a very old 
lady threw down her knitting, and looking sharply 
at us, told us to "go on," as she had ** nothing to 
give." She paid no attention to anything we said, 
which was satisfactorily accounted for by one of the 
little girls (who had meanwhile recovered from her 
fright) saying that "• grandma is deaf." The little 
girl further told us that her mother was absent, 
whereupon we took chairs and seated ourselves 
before the comfortable fire, to await her return. 

When she came in and found us in her sitting- 
room, she very frankly informed us that we must 
*' move on," it was "cruel" to imperil the lives of 
her family by remaining in her house. " If," said 
she, " Keith's Confederates dash in here and find 
you, they will kill you and us, and burn our home. 



LODGINGS IN A BARN. 209 

Please go on, gentlemen, and Heaven will bless you. 
I am alone here, or you would not dare to invade 
my home." Her appeal was a strong one, and 
under ordinary circumstances her request should 
have been promptly complied with ; but night was 
now near at hand, and as it was too late to look else- 
where for quarters, we begged her to allow us to 
remain, assuring her that there could be no danger. 
Tears bedewed her eyes, as she finally consented to 
our request, promising, as soon as it became dark, 
to conduct us to the barn, in which, if we must stay 
on her premises, we could pass the night. The hay- 
mow was at length visited, and in it we slept till the 
bright, warm rays of the sun came streaming through 
the interstices, warning us that it was time to arise. 

It was Sunday, November 6th. Repairing to 
the house, we enjoyed a good wash, wiping our 
weather-beaten faces on clean, soft towels — the first 
I had seen in a long time, — then sat down to a good 
breakfast, to which, it is unnecessary for me to say, 
we did the fullest justice. True, our hostess had no 
savory steak to set before us, nor meat of any kind, 
save bacon, and bacon I never could eat, no matter 
how hungry. Our party had agreed before separat- 
ing the previous day, to spend the Sabbath in the 
" orchard," owing to the horrible condition of the 
roads, and the slippery state of the walking in the 
woods, in which the sun had but little chance to 
thaw the ice and snow. 

After breakfast, it occurred to me that I was 
entitled to a share of the beeve killed at Mr. Buck's. 



210 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

Mentioning this circumstance to Lewis, he said, as 
if he didn't care much about it, '' Yes, so we are, but 
it's too deuced cold to go back after it." I then 
suggested that as his boots " still held out," he had 
better go for it, but to this he interposed a dozen 
objections. I spoke to the lady — whose pretty name 
I had meanwhile ascertained was Mrs. FRANCES 
Marion Hampton — about the meat, whereupon 
she promised to cook it for us in case it was obtained 
and brought to the house. I told her it would afford 
me great pleasure to go back for the meat if I had 
any means of reaching the place, but being barefooted 
it would be almost impossible for me to accomplish 
the errand. ** You may take the colt," said Mrs. 
Hampton, *' on which you will get along very nicely."^ 
Happy thought ! Pinning the front of my old torn 
and threadbare blouse together (the buttons had 
long since disappeared), I took an old bridle, which 
I found in the stable, and ran down into the field 
fronting the house, to catch the colt, which was run- 
ning at large therein. The colt being much younger 
than myself, and more briskly disposed, would not 
allow me to approach nearer than twenty feet, when 
he would kick up his little heels in a very provoking 
way, and gallop to another part of the lot. I was 
on the point of giving up the undertaking, when 
Mrs. Hampton, who had been amused at my futile 
efforts, came down to where I was standing. Com- 
plimenting me by remarking that she " guessed " I 
was no horseman, she relieved me of the bridle, and 
walking down to where the colt was standing, head 



LIEUT. '' JIM" HARTLEY. 211 

and ears up, placed the bit in his mouth and led him 
up to a fence upon which I had been glad to seat 
myself, in order to keep my feet out of the snow. 
Mounting the animal, I rode up the valley road as 
fast as its icy condition would permit, arriving with- 
out further mishap at Mr. Buck's. Fastening the 
colt under a shed at the roadside, I walked up to 
the house, in the door of which Mr. Buck's two 
daughters stood awaiting me. They extended me 
a hearty welcome, and for an hour and more, as I 
sat before their cheerful fire toasting my feet, we 
talked about the war and the North, matters in 
which they felt a lively interest. I exhibited to 
them a photograph of my wife, colored rather pret- 
tily, and they expressed astonishment at its beauty, 
never having seen anything of the kind before. 
That picture to those girls was as interesting as 
any works of art ever were to a connoisseur. 

While sitting before the comfortable fire, the 
watch-dog commenced barking furiously, and on 
opening the door and looking out, one of the young 
ladies fairly danced with joy. '* Jim ! Jim !" she 
shouted to a horseman in a blue great-coat, who was 
in the act of dismounting from a horse in front of the 
house — then she tripped down to meet him, and 
after a warm embrace, conducted the stranger into 
the house, where he was introduced to me in a right 
royal manner. 

Lieutenant James Hartley, the hero of the recent 
fight on the mountains, was the new-comer — the 
one, of all others, I was glad td meet and grasp by 



212 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

the hand. My heart almost bounded out of my 
poor worn body as I took the gallant fellow by the 
hand. The young ladies were very happy on being 
informed that their *' loved ones" at the front were 
safe ; and while they perused the letters brought to 
them by the lieutenant, Hartley and myself engaged 
in conversation, soon becoming greatly attached to 
each other, talking as if we had long been ac- 
quainted. It was a source of great wonder to him 
how we had been able to reach the " orchard." how 
we had escaped the dangers which must have beset 
us on our long journey. He promised to do all in 
his power to aid me and my party, and he would 
gladly accompany us to the Union lines, if we could 
wait until he notified his " recruits" of his intention 
to start. Besides, the snow would soon disappear, 
rendering the traveling much better. He promised 
to ride over to the " cave" and see our party, and 
wishing us " good day," he sprang upon his horse 
and galloped away, soon being lost to our view. 

It was nearly noon, and I had not even mentioned 
my errand. Borrowing a large knife, I went down 
to the " spring-house," where the beast's carcass had 
been put the night previous ; but despite vigorous 
and protracted efforts, I was unable to procure the 
piece which I greatly wanted. My feebleness pre- 
vented me from severing the piece which I had hag- 
gled at. Mustering up courage, I returned to the 
house and told the girls of my failure. Expressing 
regret that they had not accompanied me at first, 
one of the girls skipped away, and a minute or two 



A TERRIBLE MISHAP. 213 

afterwards returned, bearing in her arms a magnifi- 
cent piece, which she declared would " be lovely for 
a pot roast." When I had become thoroughly 
*' thawed out," I walked to the colt, and sprang nim- 
bly from a chop-log to his back, the girls handing 
up to me the chunk of meat, which weighed some 
twenty pounds. Placing this upon the colt's neck, 
in front of me, I pressed the extended hands of 
the Tennessee girls, and bidding them " farewell," 
trotted away, feeling happier than tongue can tell 
or pen portray. 

Riding along, I congratulated myself over and 
over again at the bright prospect before me. Provi- 
dence continued to smile benignly upon me — what 
more could I ask, except a comfortable suit of 
clothes and a pair of good shoes or boots ? I thought 
of the " square meal " I should have on my return 
to Mrs. Hampton's, and was inexpressibly delighted. 
But, alas for human calculations ! The colt and I 
got along so pleasantly together that I did not 
dream of any mishap occurring. He slid at times, 
it is true, but his quick-footedness saved us from in- 
jury. Everything went as merry as a marriage-bell 
until we reached a stream of water from the moun- 
tain's side, crossing the roadway, both sides being 
lined with ice. The colt reluctantly and with much 
difficulty entered the stream, the ice giving way at 
every step, but on reaching the opposite side, he 
suddenly lowered his little head, which caused the 
old bridle to fall off. Elevating his head and turn- 
ing his eyes knowingly towards me, he gave a win- 



I 



214 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

now loud enough to start the Seven Sleepers ; the 
next instant I found myself flying through space. 
When I regained consciousness, some time after 
landing on terra firma, I was surprised to find my- 
self lying under the bottom rail of a fence. 

How long I remained unconscious I never knew. 
When I recovered my senses and painfully realized 
my helpless condition as I lay by the roadside, a 
few feet from the water's edge, I was thankful that I 
had not landed in the middle of the stream, where 
I should certainly have drowned. The horrors of 
the situation will not be forgotten while life lasts. 
Bruised and bleeding, my body racked with pain, I 
asked myself, Can it be that every bone is broken ? 
Finally, by steadying myself against the fence, I 
raised myself to a sitting posture, but my right leg I 
could not move. When able to view it, I was hor- 
rified at the sight it presented — my knee had swollen 
to more than double its usual size. I was positive 
it had been fractured. No house or human habitation 
was within sight or hearing. What would become of 
me? I moaned in bitterness of spirit. It was fear- 
fully cold, the sun having disappeared behind heavy 
leaden-colored clouds. While life has so many at- 
tractions, must I die in such a place? was the one 
thought which took possession of my soul. I re- 
peatedly attempted to rise to my feet, but failed. 
I clutched the fence-rails and swung myself around, 
placing my bruised and bleeding feet in the water, 
which speedily warmed them, giving me new 
strength. Sensible that I should perish unless I 



WOUNDED AND HELPLESS. 21$ 

could get away without delay, I bathed my terribly 
swollen limb in the ice-bound brook until the acute 
pains were somewhat assuaged, when I made a de- 
termined effort to stand. Partially raising myself, I 
looked up and down the road, and across the fields 
to the high mountains on either side, but saw no 
helper. No pleasant sound cheered my fainting 
spirits. Even the landscape was dreary. True, 
there were some familiar objects. There, in the mid- 
dle of the roadway, lay the meat which I had risked 
and suffered so much to obtain. The old bridle, 
too, the cause of my present misfortune, was near at 
hand. The sight of the meat increased my hunger, 
and, while " so near and yet so far," did much to 
tantalize me. I felt as ravenous as a wolf, and at 
one time I really believe I could have eaten the 
meat in its raw state, had I been able to reach it. 
After I had raised myself up against the fence, forced 
to rest my weight entirely upon my left foot, I 
made up my mind not to lie down again. How the 
minutes dragged as I stood in that lonely place, 
wondering whether Lewis would venture out to see 
what had become of me ! Certainly he would start 
on seeing the colt return without its rider ! Exer- 
cising the greatest patience and renewing my exer- 
tions, I was enabled, after a time, to place my right 
foot upon the ground, but to my dismay, found my- 
self unable to take a single step forward with its aid. 
Convinced that death would soon claim me for his 
victim, unless I made a desperate effort for self-pres- 
ervation, I continued to raise my foot, working my 



2l6 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

leg as much as possible, until enabled to bear my 
weight upon it, when I hobbled out to where the 
meat and bridle were lying. It was too tempting to 
leave, but how can I carry such a great weight. An 
idea strikes me. Fastening the meat to the bridle, 
I commenced the return, the most disagreeable and 
painful march of my life, dragging it after me — the 
ice-covered roadway greatly aiding me in the task, 
as it not only was drawn easily, but was thus kept 
clean and cool. No refrigerator would better have 
answered the purpose. 

Of course my progress was very slow and fatigu- 
ing — my feet feeling as if they were round balls, the 
circulation of the blood having long ago stopped. 
At one stage, feeling as if I had no feet at all, I lost 
my equilibrium and fell flat upon my face, and de- 
spite all I could do, they refused to aid me in getting 
up. It was at such times that I placed my feet in 
the stream of water which ran most of the way 
alongside the road. Often was I in the act of giving 
up, for I did not believe it possible for me to endure 
the agony much longer, and it seemed as if I would 
not live to reach Mrs. Hampton's ; but hope, and a 
determination to reach God's country, prevailed, 
and saved me from a terrible death in the wildest 
part of Tennessee. 

It was between four and five o'clock when I 
reached Mrs. Hampton's, having been four hours 
in walking or crawling between two or three miles. 
Mrs. H. met me at the gate, and when she saw my 
condition, she burst into tears, crying as if her heart 



A SELFISH GRIEF. 2\y 

would break. I was greatly affected by her deep 
emotion, and sought to console her. Entering the 
house, she again gave way to her feelings, which 
added to my sorrow. I ascertained that her grief 
was more on her own account than on mine, when 
she inquired what would now become of her if I 
should be left on her hands to be taken care of, for 
God knows how long! I bade the poor woman be 
of good cheer, for nothing but death itself would be 
able to keep me any longer in that country than I 
could find a path in which to escape from it. I as- 
sured her that I would go on with the party if they 
had to drag me as I dragged the meat. This seemed 
to set her fears at rest, and she at once commenced 
the pleasant duty of cooking me a steak, which I had 
long craved. 

Lewis was full of pity and excuses. He had 
noticed the return of the pony, but attributed 
nothing unusual to that circumstance, as he sup- 
posed the colt, becoming cold, while I was having 
an agreeable time within doors, had broken away 
and returned home. The good supper, promptly 
served, soon caused me to forget what I had under- 
gone, for I never ate with greater relish, and good 
victuals will banish enmity at any time. How thank- 
ful I now was that I had brought the meat along. 
I should never have forgiven myself had I left it 
where it fell in the road. 

During the evening Mr. Hampton put in his ap- 
pearance, for the first time, coming down from his 
cave on the mountain for the purpose of ascertain- 



2l8 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

ing who the strangers were and what they wanted. 
He was a fine-looking, intelligent man. Before the 
war he had been prominent in political affairs and a 
member of the Legislature. His narratives of guer- 
rilla outrages were blood-curdling. For months 
past he had, with his neighbors, been a " Iyer-out," 
and although he had never found it necessary to 
wander very far from the mountain, which almost 
overshadowed his home, yet seldom had he dared 
venture to pass a day or night with his family. He 
was very kind to me, saying that if I was unable to 
proceed with my friends, it would be absolutely 
necessary for me to join him, as his family would 
be subjected to fearful perils in case the guerrillas 
caught me about the place. At midnight Mr. 
Hampton assisted me to the barn, and made re- 
peated efforts to hoist me up into the hay-loft ; but 
failing in this, he placed me in a manger, and cover- 
ing me with hay, bade me *' good bye," disappeared 
in the darkness, leaving me alone with my misery. 



CHAPTER XXXni. 

A LAME MAN EXPECTED TO '' FLY." 

THE weather next morning was comparatively 
pleasant. My leg, although still painful and 
much swollen, was better, enabling me to walk or 
hobble with greater ease. On reaching the house, 
I found I was the object of much solicitude to my 



A FOR TUNA TE DISCO VER V. 2 19 

devoted hostess, who tenderly inquired concerning 
my health, and brought me water in which to wash, 
and towels, with a hair-comb — certainly a great 
novelty to me. After breakfast I took down the 
family bible, and had just got interested in that 
portion of Deuteronomy where Moses blesses the 
tribes, when Mrs. Hampton rushed into the apart- 
ment, almost breathless with excitement, begging 
Lewis and myself to ** leave the house." Very much 
surprised at her conduct, and at a loss to understand 
the suddenness of her action, it was some moments 
before I could comprehend the nature of her alarm. 
She had heard a horn down the valley, which was 
the well-known signal of impending danger. I could 
not bring myself to believe that danger was immi- 
nent, being very loath to leave such a comfortable 
abode, and I finally succeeded in persuading the good 
woman that her fears were groundless — that she was 
laboring under a hallucination. She at length re- 
tired to the '' kitchen," an apartment in a small ad- 
joining house in the rear, and resumed her customary 
avocation. 

In replacing the bible upon the shelf in a closet, 
I was rejoiced to discover a razor, which, upon ex- 
amination, I found would answer a useful purpose; 
so I procured some water and soap, and set about 
scraping my face, the first operation of the kind it 
had undergone in many months. I was getting 
along nicely with the process, being about half 
through, when I was startled by the sudden reap- 
pearance of Mrs. H., who sprang towards me, with a 



220 FAST A^D LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

wild look in her eyes, and seizing me before I had 
time to lay the razor down, fairly dragged me across 
the room to the back door, crying at the top of her 
voice, '' Fly ! fly ! for God's sake fly !" I couldn't fly^ 
and she wouldn't have proposed such an absurd 
thing, had she stopped a moment to consider the 
proposition. I could not walk, much \q^s fly. Sud- 
denly remembering my condition, she gave way to a 
fit of passionate sobs, but recovering, again implored 
me to '' run ! " for the *' Confederates are coming." 
As she said this, I was startled by a loud and long 
blast of a bugle, which seemed to inspire me. In 
another instant I had bounded over a high rail-fence 
in rear of the house, and was running up the rugged 
mountain side, not stopping to look behind or to 
take breath, until I reached the summit, when I 
dropped, like one dead, behind the trunk of a huge 
tree. Directly, I arouse myself, and looking about, 
hear cries. Then I see Todd, Grant and " Bill" run- 
ning as if for dear life, some distance ahead. I 
quickly followed, and when they reached the " cave," 
I was but a few yards behind. 

The manner of our arrival at the " cave" caused 
considerable agitation among the mountaineers, but 
the moment matters were explained, skirmishers 
were thrown out, those having the best weapons 
taking the most advanced positions on the sur- 
rounding hills. 

As I lay stretched upon the floor of the *' cave," 
resting, it suddenly occurred to my mind that where- 
as I was lame, now was I whole. . How I had been 



A BATTLE AMONG VERMIN. 221 

able to run up that steep mountain side and keep 
up with my comrades was a mystery to me. The 
whole thing seemed like a dream, impossible of re- 
alization, and I came to the conclusion that a man's 
ability to run depends very much on the induce- 
ments offered. Certainly, I needed no greater in- 
centive. I verily believe I ran quite as fast as I had 
on any previous occasion. 

As no attack was made, the men not on " outpost 
duty" finished their task of cutting up a beeve just 
slaughtered, and during the evening pieces of the 
same were roasted, boiled, etc., and divided up. I 
could not sleep, owing to the excitement and a re- 
turn of my bodily pains. Had I been in the enjoy- 
ment of the best health, and free from danger, my 
condition would have been all the same, for the lice 
actually devoured me, or tried to do so. Every 
time I was fortunate enough to obtain a warm sleep- 
ing place, the vermin took advantage of the situa- 
tion, and labored incessantly to add to my wretch- 
edness. 

The lice battled all night, and a terrible contest 
they had of it. Whether the aborigines from Libby 
Prison got the best of the South Carolinians, or 
whether the recent arrivals in Tennessee had at- 
tacked the entire force, I had no means of ascertain- 
ing. One thing was certain, the vermin did not live 
on amicable terms with themselves or with me. In 
biting, and causing a man to forget his religious prin- 
ciples, I think a Southern louse is eminently suc- 
cessful. Besides all this, they are mean creatures, for 



222 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

they'll stay by a fellow till the last drop of blood is 
gone, and sometimes they will linger for a long time 
afterwards. Language fails in expressing my con- 
tempt and hatred for Southern lice, especially when 
they are mixed. 

Daylight came at last, and with it the forward 
movement began. On reaching Mrs. Hampton's, I 
dismounted from the old mule and entered the 
domicile to procure the biscuits and meat which the 
good lady had promised to have in readiness. She 
had been true to her word. Thanking her for her 
kind attentions I remounted, and forced the mule 
down the narrow valley road, as fast as I could urge 
him, until I caught up with the party. We reached 
the south-western extremity of the valley at nine 
o'clock, when we struck off into the hills, gaining a 
commanding range about noon, when we halted and 
lunched. Our party now was quite large, being in- 
creased in numbers by the addition of several whom 
we found in the cave at the " orchard," and who 
had asked to accompany us. 

While resting beside a sparkling brook, debating 
as to the best route in order to have the smoothest 
walking as well as to evade guerrillas, we saw a man 
dodging about in a small opening far below us. 
Lieutenant Hartley, recognizing the stranger as the 
major of his regiment — E. A. Davis — called out to 
him. The major promptly ascended the hill-side, 
and introductions speedily followed. He was armed 
with a magazine rifle and a large Colt's navy re- 
volver. We entered into conversation with the 



ELECTION DAY. 223 

major, and begged him to be one of our escort, prom- 
ising to reward him handsomely on reaching our 
lines. He replied that while he would like to be of 
service to us, yet he had a more important duty to 
perform. He wanted to see his mother, from whom 
he had long been separated, and after transacting 
some business he must obtain '' recruits." A score 
or so of our party said they would enlist, if the major 
would turn back, and this so pleased him that he 
agreed to comply with our request, saying, further, 
he would only go as far as our safety might require. 

The major was a valuable acquisition, as he was 
thoroughly acquainted with the country. I was 
now satisfied that we would be able to reach our 
army at no distant day, and my fainting heart beat 
with corresponding joy. Under the skillful pilotage 
of Major Davis we marched until sunset, meanwhile 
keeping a sharp lookout for any enemy that might 
be lurking about, having made the amazing distance 
of twenty-seven miles since starting at daybreak. 
Finding a large unoccupied barn in the centre of 
a valley, with no fences in sight, we halted for the 
night, and when assembled around the cheerful fire, 
the conversation became of a highly interesting 
character. Major Davis was a whole-souled fellow^, 
thoroughly posted about the war and the recent 
operations of our armies. 

Some one remarking during the evening that this 
was the eighth day of November — a day on which 
the people of the United States were casting their 
votes for president — it was proposed that our party 



224 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

be canvassed. A viva-voce vote was taken, every 
man pronouncing the name of Abraham Lincoln, 
whom we declared to be the next president. Wrap- 
ping our blankets around us we were soon asleep. 

During the next afternoon we killed a fine beeve 
which we found roaming at large, and while portions 
of it were being cooked, I wended my way to a clear 
running brook, where, with the aid of a cake of 
soap and a towel kindly loaned me by Major Davis, 
I succeeded in removing the dirt with which my 
body had been for a long time covered. Todd, 
after recognizing me, inquired whether I wasn't 
*' afraid of taking cold." 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

AN ALARM AT MIDNIGHT. 

JUST before dusk we halted at " Greasy Lost 
Cove" for supper, after concluding which we 
continued on, marching as rapidly yet noiselessly 
as possible. Directly, sounds of revelry burst upon 
our ears, instinctively causing each man in our party 
to spring behind a tree. The major and Hartley 
move forward, rifles in hand, ready for any emer- 
gency, to reconnoitre. Hartley soon returns bring- 
ing the joyful intelligence that '' it's only a husking 
party !" whereupon we continue on, and reaching 
the house, find a large party assembled. We are 
warmly greeted and invited to enter the log cabin, 



i 



A STAMPEDE. 22$ 

which is too limited to accommodate those already 
under the roof. Our visit occasioned great surprise ; 
and when it became known that four ** Yankee offi- 
cers" were in the party, the festivities ceased — my- 
self and three comrades becoming the cynosure of 
all eyes. The lady of the house set to work, assisted 
by several young ladies, and in a few minutes they 
prepared an inviting supper for us. While we were 
eating, dancing was resumed, and such dancing I 
had never before seen. A vast amount of vitality 
was displayed by both sexes. It made me dizzy to 
see them whirl about the room. After awhile the 
entire party repaired to the field adjoining the 
house, where all ** shucked corn" for a couple of 
hours — then we all went back to the house for a 
** parting dance." While all were merry, the report 
of two rifle or pistol shots were heard in quick suc- 
cession. The dancers stopped short, as if they 
never intended to resume their festivities, and a 
scene of indescribable confusion ensued. The dis- 
graceful rout which I saw at Bull Run was a *' dress 
parade" in comparison. I never understood how I 
got out of the house. My first recollection after I 
heard the shots was when I recovered my self-pos- 
session in a filthy hen-coop, into which some kind 
friend must have carried me. How else could I 
have got in such a place ? I was forcibly reminded 
of my whereabouts by the odor which greeted my 
olfactory nerves, and by a wild fluttering of the 
poultry above my head. I think I stiielt that hen- 
coop for months afterwards, and yet it may have 



226 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

been a freak of the imagination. As no one dis- 
turbed me, and as I could not see or hear any enemy, 
I crawled out of my coop, and waited for the party to 
reassemble, which they finally did. I taunted Todd 
and Lewis with going off and leaving me. And 
they were just beginning to think I had acted in a 
brave manner by not running, when Todd inhaled 
the hen-coop fragrance about my person : then both 
he and Lewis paid me back with interest. 

As the rain commenced falling, and our present 
position was one of danger, the major insisted upon 
our crossing the '' Chucky" River before daylight. 
Time was when all this section of country was 
romantic ground. *' The great Indian war-trail, 
along which so many scenes of violence and murder 
were enacted, ran not far from this point," said the 
major. " From the time of the settlement along 
the bank of this beautiful mountain river, more than 
a hundred years ago, until early in the present cen- 
tury, the settler took his life in his hands daily, and 
the war-cry of the Indian was a familiar sound to his 
ever-listening ears." 

We struck the " Chucky" at the ford where it 
ran rapidly between great mountains, whose sides 
were so steep as to be almost inaccessible on foot. 
I shuddered when I reached and stood at the edge 
of the seething, plunging waters. The spray and 
rain were almost blinding. The angry stream 
clutched at the huge rocks which lined its banks, 
now and then tumbling them into the chasm. I 
saw hollows in the rocks, as I have seen them at 



CROSSING THE ''CHUCKVr 22/ 

Niagara Falls, which had been worn to a considera- 
ble depth by the rushing waters. The stream, full 
of eddies and whirlpools, caused me to decline a 
ride across to the other shore on the mule, although 
my friends insisted that it would be perfectly safe to 
do so, and that I would thereby be saved much trou- 
ble- and fatigue. I confess that, never particularly 
fond of water, I was afraid to make the venture, 
however safe a ferry the old mule might prove to ^ 
be ; and as I descended from his back, Sim vaulted 
upon him, and with a wild cheer he dashed into 
the foaming water, and was immediately lost to 
sight. A loud huzza, as he safely reached the op- 
posite side, assured us of his safety. 

The major knew there was a '* ferry boat" just 
above the dam, but he was not certain that he could 
find it. He retraced his steps to a small log-cabin 
which we had but recently passed, and awoke the 
inmates — a man and his wife. The man appeared 
at an upper window, and when asked to pilot us to 
the ** ferry," swore in a terrible manner ; but the 
major cut him '' short" by bringing his rifle to bear 
upon the enraged Tennesseean, who all at once be- 
came studiously polite, and soon after graciously 
waited upon us. I shall never forget the dangers 
which beset us before reaching that dam. Proceed- 
ing along in single file, we began the perilous ascent 
and descent, for it was both. A scarcely perceptible 
trail led along the rugged mountain side, but now 
and then was lost, as we came to a rock, over which 
we were each compelled to climb and crawl and 



228 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

drop. We held on to twigs and branches of trees 
and bushes, as down, far below our giddy perch, we 
could hear the roar of water plunging over the dam 
— and to lose our grip was certain death. We suc- 
ceeded in reaching the dam without mishap, save to 
one of our party — the wife of the soldier who was 
shot through the arm in Hartley's fight. She who 
had come along to nurse her husband, had in drop- 
ping from a rock sustained the fracture of a limb. 
We had to leave the poor woman behind, with a 
family who promised to bestow every care and at- 
tention upon her. 

Above the dam, a natural impediment, the water 
was smooth but very deep, the current strong and 
swift. Here we found the ferry-master with a large 
flat-bottomed boat, awaiting us, he having been 
awakened by "■ Sim," who had preceded us to this 
point. The boat was secured at each end by a 
stout rope, fastened on either shore. Long before 
daylight our entire party had been ferried across, 
and landed in a dense laurel swamp, through which 
we were guided to a large house, a mile or so dis- 
tant. Myself and three Yankee comrades had no 
sooner entered the house, than the hostess insisted 
upon our taking her bed, which she said was large 
enough to accommodate us. Without disrobing we 
crawled in and slept until awakened after sunrise. 

We were on the point of departing, when our 
party was increased by the addition of a man who 
appeared very suddenly. He was attired in the full 
uniform of a rebel officer. He was an officer in 



THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS. 22g 

Major Davis's regiment, and recognized by many in 
our party. He had recently escaped, he said, from 
Keith's guerrillas. Killing his captor, he stripped 
him of his uniform, and after donning it, had 
mounted upon his victim's horse and made good 
his escape. This officer was a valuable acquisition 
to our party, possessing, as he did, a perfect knowl- 
edge of the country, and familiar with the haunts 
of the guerrillas who constantly roamed through 
the eastern section of Tennessee. 

By noonday we had gained a distance of some 
twelve miles, although I had imagined we had 
walked twice as far. Traveling, however, was bad 
and exceedingly fatiguing. We had now reached 
the chain of the great Smoky Mountain Range — the 
very place of all others we had been particularly 
cautioned against visiting just before we left Charles- 
ton, owing to the presence there of Indians, most of 
whom, an East Tennessee captain had assured us, 
were acting in the interest of the Confederacy. The 
mountains here rose to a height of between five and 
six thousand feet, and seen from a distance they 
seemed bathed in a mellow haze, like that distin- 
guishing the atmosphere of Indian summer. We 
passed through a gap which had a great elevation ; 
beneath us were vast canyons, from which came up 
the roar of the creeks, greatly swollen by recent 
rains. We looked down upon the tops of mighty 
forests, never tiring of their grandeur. The path- 
ways grew rockier as we clambered along, but the 
air was pure and refreshing, and had I been comfort- 



230 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

ably clad and in '' good condition," I should have 
revelled in the beauty of the scenes, which like a 
panorama, constantly presented new beauties. As 
far as the eye could see, on every hand, stood long 
lines of towering crags, from which there seemed no 
outlet. Once I turned on the crest of a prodigious 
mountain, and, looking Carolinaward, I saw our old 
friends of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny ranges, 
scattered for miles in friendly groups among the 
dark and forbidding-looking forests. Before us and 
behind us were deep ravines, and beyond all, un- 
counted peaks, which the very sky seemed tenderly 
to bend over and kiss with affection. 

The shades of another night were fast settling 
around us, when we discovered a cow running 
through a small clearing. We killed her and had 
a feast. After a "■ rest," we continued on along pic- 
turesque paths until we reached the placid Indian 
Creek, or river, with the mountains near it mirrowed 
in its rain-rippled breast. Upon this beautiful 
country through which we were now wandering, the 
Indian had lavished that wealth of affection which 
he always feels for nature and never for man. He 
gave to the multitudinous hills and streams the soft 
poetic names of his expansive language — names 
which the white man has in many cases cast away, 
substituting the barborous commonplaces of the 
rude days of early settlement. Indian Creek 
" heads" in the Smoky Mountains, and swelling 
into volume from countless springs of coldest, pur- 
est, most transparent water, which send little tor- 




CROSSING THE CHUCKEY RIVER. 



3AD BLOOD WORKING. 233 

rents down all the deep ravines, it goes foaming 
and dashing over myriad rocks, sometimes leap- 
ing from dizzy heights into the narrow and wild- 
looking canyons, until it comes to, and is lost, in 
the noble and majestic French Broad River, which 
we successfully forded a few days afterwards. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

A TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER. 

IT was about midnight when we reached a point 
where the river was fordable, and much time was 
consumed in crossing. Here the mule and horses 
(we now had several with us) proved their great 
usefulness, acting as they did in place of " ferry- 
boats." Each animal was made to carry two per- 
sons across at a time, then by means of a long rope, 
they were guided back for other ** passengers." The 
horses swam splendidly, but after a while we found 
it necessary to give them occasional " rests." Most 
of the party had thus been ferried to the left bank 
of the river, myself and three Yankee comrades, with 
the major and Hartley remaining on the right bank, 
superintending the embarkations, and guiding the 
animals in their passage to and fro. Directly, loud 
and angry words, with terrible oaths, are borne to 
us on the wings of the wind. We know what they 
mean, for bad blood had been engendered between 
the North Carolinians and Tennesseeans during the 



234 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

early part of the evening, when we divided the last 
cow which had been slaughtered. 

Fearful of a bloody contest, and the creating of 
an alarm which would bring down upon us a horde 
of bushwhackers, we sprang upon the horses and 
urged the poor beasts across the stream, dismounted, 
and rushing in among the infuriated men, succeeded 
in separating the combatants and restoring quiet, if 
not harmony. The women in the party were incon- 
solable. They ran up and down the river's bank, 
uttering loud lamentations, refusing to be pacified or 
comforted. A number of those who had been fight- 
ing were badly cut, knives having been drawn when 
the first insult was given. I was now full of trouble. 
If we should lose our influence over these men, it 
was almost certain that we should fail in reaching 
the Union lines. We appealed to them to stand by 
one another — to keep on with us, and that their re- 
ward should be great. They sheathed their bloody 
weapons, but at the same time each party looked as 
if they would renew the engagement as soon as op- 
portunity offered. Both parties manifested great 
respect for us ** Yankees," and swearing they would 
obey us, we resumed the tiresome tramp. 

The ascent of Higgins's Ridge was both tedious 
and painful to me, requiring five hours in its difficult 
consummation. The gigantic hill, over which we 
were making our way, was clad in the sombre garb 
of the balsam — the sad and haughty monarch of 
those great heights. The odorous boughs of these 
mighty trees brushed against the clouds, while in the 



THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY, 235 

deep thickets, where the sunbeams can hardly pene- 
trate, safe refuges for the panther, wolf, and the bear 
are afforded. The balsam is emphatically an aristo- 
cratic tree. It is never found in the humble valleys, 
and rarely lower than at an elevation of four thou- 
sand feet. It consorts with the proud rhododendron, 
whose scarlet bloom was the object of the Indians' 
passionate adoration, and its grand stem springs 
from among the decaying and moss-grown rocks of 
the everlasting hills. 

At noon I breathed more freely than I had at 
any time since my capture, as from a grand eleva- 
tion, I, for the first time, gazed upon and across the 
lovely Cumberland Valley to its grand mountains be- 
yond. Far below us, and directly opposite, was the 
town of Greenville, the home of Andrew Johnson, 
whom I had heard was the Republican candidate for 
Vice President. I suppose that was the chief reason 
why I looked so interestedly upon the place. I saw 
Jonesboro away to my right, while other villages 
dotted the beautiful and charming plains below. 

Bull Gap, too, where a portion of the Union army 
was said to be encamped, was within sight — a long 
distance across the valley in our immediate front. 
With what wistful eyes I looked to the bold prom- 
ontory, and what longings I had to be there. But 
another day would certainly chronicle my arrival 
among the blue-coats, and in this joyous expec- 
tancy I was nerved for the final struggle. 

While hastening along the summit of a magnifi- 
cent ridge, we were suddenly thrown into a wild 



236 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

state of commotion by the appearance of a number 
of guerrillas, whom we accidentally saw riding furi- 
ously upon a parallel ridge, in the same direction 
we were going. The major grasped his rifle more 
firmly, and counselled us to march as fast as possible, 
or we should be "■ lost." It would be necessary, he 
said, to reach an elevation a mile and more ahead 
before the horsemen could gain it. We had the ad- 
vantage of a direct and straight course, while the 
enemy were on the outer line of the circle, and it 
might be possible for us to reach the junction of the 
ridges before them, but a desperate effort would be 
required. The major. Captain Todd, and a dozen 
others who were best armed, hastened away in ad- 
vance, with a view of gaining a position where they 
could resist the rebel cavalry and cover our retreat. 

It was now a race for life — every man and 
woman for themselves. It was one of the most 
exciting chases I ever witnessed. Owing to the 
condition of my feet, which were very sore and 
bleeding, I soon fell to the rear. My heart, which 
a few minutes before had beaten with the liveliest 
emotions of joy, now almost fainted within me, as I 
contemplated the danger which surrounded us. I 
felt every moment as if I should drop, through ex- 
haustion ; and fearing that I would be unable to 
reach and ascend the high mountain directly in 
front, I thought of descending the hill upon which 
I was making my way, and secreting myself in the 
wilderness below, until the present danger had 
passed. Fortunately I continued on, doing my 



A PLEA SANT RE VERIE. 237 

best to keep up with the party, whom I could still 
see. At length I reached the point where our rifle- 
men had stationed themselves, and once more feel- 
ing secure, threw myself upon the ground, where I 
lay for some time in an insensible state. The bush- 
whackers dashed up to within a short distance of 
us, when, finding our men armed, and in a capital 
position of defence, they fell back without firing a 
shot. The major maintained his place for an hour 
or so, when, the party being pretty well down the 
mountain, he gave orders to proceed, our progress 
being slow, it being necessary for Todd and others 
to assist me, as I was too weak to proceed without 
help. 

We had another grand view of the Cumberland 
valley as we descended Big Butt Mountain, whose 
base rested in its bosom. " Bull Gap," the haven 
of our fond desires, was but fifteen or twenty miles 
away, and certainly we should be able to reach it 
safely. What, now, could prevent us from doing 
that ? The '' Gap" was within plain sight, and no 
danger could possibly lurk on that lovely plain, 
which seemed as quiet as a rural cemetery. In an 
hour we shall be revelling in the delights of the val- 
ley, and be among a people noted for their intelli- 
gence and hospitality — a people who will be pleased 
to render us all the assistance in their power, and 
who can speedily ameliorate my condition. In an 
hour — what a thought ! I shall be enabled by 
means of the telegraph to flash to my family the 
news of my safe arrival from a rebel prison-pen ! 



238 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

What care I, now, for my frozen and bleeding feet, 
my emaciated appearance? Have I not passed 
through manifold dangers and been mercifully pre- 
served through the terrible vicissitudes of a long 
journey, and is not the end near ? 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

A CLAP OF THUNDER IN A CLEAR SKY ! 

BOOM ! Boom ! Boom-m-m ! What is that ? 
Why the crashing of artillery and the rattle of 
musketry ? Can it be that the fiends of hell have 
arisen to bar our farther progress? Thunder in a 
cloudless sky would not have been as surprising as 
the reverberations of the artillery which greeted our 
ears that afternoon. Heavy smoke soon arose near 
the " Gap," and we knew by the firing that a battle 
had been begun. No one in our party could offer a 
solution of the mystery, or account for the conflict. 
With an army of the enemy directly across our 
chosen path, and cruel and reckless guerrillas hang- 
ing about our rear, our situation became decidedly 
an unenviable one. Should we be able to elude 
both parties now? that was the all-absorbing ques- 
tion. 

We moved on down the steep mountain side 
until we reached a deep ravine, up which we marched 
to a place deemed entirely safe, where we concluded 
to bivouac. As the shadows of evening settled 



I 



A TRUCE. 239 

upon our wearied party, there came a sudden termi- 
nation of the conflict which had filled our souls with 
anguish. 

The bugles sang truce, for the night-cloud had lowered. 
And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky ; 
And thousands had sunk on the ground overpowered, 
The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die." 

Guards being carefully posted, we stretched our 
forms upon the cold ground, to await the approach 
of morn. 

*' When reposing that night on my pallet of straw. 
By the wolf-scaring fagot that guarded the slain. 
At the dead of the night a sweet vision I saw, 
And thrice ere the morning I dreamt it again. 

Methought from the battle-field's dreadful array, 
Far, far, I had roamed on a desolate track : 
'Twas autumn, and sunshine arose on the way, 
To the home of my fathers that welcomed me back. 

I flew to the pleasant fields traversed so oft, 

In life's morning march, when my bosom was young ; 

I heard my own mountain goats bleating aloft. 

And knew the sweet strain that the corn-reapers sung. 

Then pledged we the wine-cup, and fondly I swore, 
From my home and my weeping friends never to part ; 
My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er. 
And my wife sobbed aloud in her fulness of heart. 

" Stay, stay with us — rest, thou art weary and worn ;" 
And fain was their war-broken soldier to stay ; — 
But sorrow returned with the dawning of morn, 
And the voice in my dreaming ear melted away." 



240 



FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 



The weather next morning was threatening. 
On the appearance of daylight, the dread firing 
was renewed. 

" Hark to that roar, whose swift and deafening peals, 
In countless echoes through the mountains ring." 

Deeming it prudent to change our position to a 
place affording better security, we marched some 
two miles, halting near a small village, the inhabi- 
tants of which were in a state of great alarm. Up to 
this moment we had been exceedingly anxious to 
escape from the dangerous and inhospitable moun- 
tains, but now that we had found an active and 
disciplined army of the enemy in the valley which 
we had been so desirous of gaining, and across which 
we had fondly hoped to pass without interruption 
or molestation, we felt less like leaving the rocks 
and caverns behind and within which, if necessary, 
we could defend ourselves for a considerable length 
of time. Having no hope of eluding the vigilant 
enemy in the open valley, we remained within the 
shadow of the woods. 

A young woman, who resided in the village, an 
acquaintance of one of our party, volunteered to go 
over towards the '' Gap" to reconnoitre. To make 
her self-imposed mission less perilous and mistrust- 
ful, she filled a large bag with ears of yellow corn, 
and was soon on her way to the " mill," some miles 
away. Just before dark we had the great pleasure 
of welcoming her safe return. Her " filly," as she 
called her pony, was covered with sweat, and well- 



A LADY RECONNOITRES, 24 1 

nigh exhausted, having traveled twenty-seven miles, 
going and returning. The poor woman was greatly 
agitated, for she had seen some of the horrors of the 
conflict. Her story was substantially as follows : 

It was Breckinridge who had been and still was 
fighting. He and his ragged host had come down 
through the valley via Danville and Abingdon, and 
his march on Knoxville had been intercepted by 
General Gillem. She said it would be impossible 
for us to reach the Union lines, as Breckinridge had 
possession of every approach — particularly the 
bridges and fords — all of which had been effectually 
guarded. The roads, too, were patrolled by cavalry- 
men, and foraging parties were roaming everywhere. 
The enemy had arrested some twenty citizens be- 
tween the " Gap" and the village, most of them being 
pronounced friends of the Union. She concluded 
her " report" by advising us to return to the moun- 
tains, and there wait until we could proceed with 
less danger and difficulty. 

The brave woman had scarcely finished, when a 
mountaineer, intensely excited, rushed among us. 
He said he had been chased a long distance, and 
that if we would save ourselves we must lose no time 
in getting away, as Keith and Palmer's men were 
coming down the mountain. He besought us to 
get back upon the range, as it would be nonsensical 
for a party like ours to attempt to " fight them 
cutthroats." 

Having no leisure to argue the question, we at 
once took his advice and commenced a retrograde 



242 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

movement over the grand hill in what but recently 
was our rear, and from which we had but a few 
hours since descended, although in another place. 
Selecting a spot that was well calculated for pur- 
poses of offense and defense we again halted to 
await developments. 

We had nothing to eat, save ears of hard corn, 
taken from a crib at the foot of the mountain, but 
for this I was devoutly thankful. The weather was 
very cold, yet we dared not light a fire lest the 
smoke therefrom might lead to a discovery of our 
whereabouts. As wretched as I then was I must 
confess I wanted to live. It seemed as if I should 
perish from the exposure, but as none in the party 
could relieve my distress, I had to grin and bear it, 
seldom uttering any complaint. One of the moun- 
taineers, however, who commiserated my forlorn 
condition, went down to the village, hoping to pro- 
cure me a pair of shoes or boots, but nothing of the 
kind could be found. Failing in this, he did the 
next best thing, and that was in securing a pair of 
rabbit-skins, which he converted into moccasins. I 
felt thankful to that poor man for his great kindness 
to me, and wished I had it in my power to repay 
him for his disinterested services. The moccasins 
were a great comfort to me, and I experienced a de- 
cided sense of relief in wearing them. The ground 
each night was white with frost. 

The morning came at length, and with it the sun 
in all his glory — the only cheerful thing to be seen. 
The wind blew strongly from the north-west. We 



GUERILLAS ON OUR TRACK. 243 

made our breakfast of the dry ears of corn, and were 
thankful for so great a boon. We munched the 
almost unpalatable food in woful silence — the scene 
being one for an artist. 

Direful rumors continued to reach us at inter- 
vals, adding to our anxiety. We knew that the 
enemy had been successful, for the noise of battle 
was farther azvay, and of course nearer Knoxville. 
Should this city be besieged now, our prospect for 
reaching the Union lines would indeed be slim. 
Knoxville, too, was one hundred miles distant, and 
how should I be able to reach it? I had only been 
enabled to keep up the last few days because of the 
nearness and certainty of reaching our lines. Our 
forces in Kentucky were much farther away, and it 
was useless for me to think of getting through to 
that State. Then what should I do ? 

About nine o'clock that morning we learned that 
Breckinridge, who had a force of some fifteen thou- 
sand ragged and half-starved men, who defeated 
General Gillem at Blue Lick Springs (near Bull 
Gap), capturing three cannon, dislodging the Union 
forces, was driving them before him directly upon 
Knoxville. Palmer, the guerrilla, had made a de- 
scent into the valley, and was committing depreda- 
tions, killing and carrying away all the cattle he 
could find ; his men had massacred a number of 
Unionists within three miles of our hiding-place. 

Believing it to be dangerous to longer remain in 
our present position, we again started off, keeping 
along under the shadow of the ridge, and parallel 



244 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

with the mountain above. How I shivered as the 
howUng winds went through me ! The excitement 
kept me up — on excitement I had always thrived. 
We continued our flight till darkness rendered it 
dangerous to travel farther, when reaching a ravine 
we disposed ourselves to obtain rest as best we 
could. Sleep came not to my swollen and heavy 
eyes. I was greatly troubled in mind and body, 
and fearful that I should not be able to hold out 
much longer. One of the party invited me to share 
his blanket, and as I was perishing, I concluded to 
do so; but the moment my person became warm, 
the vermin were correspondingly lively, conducting 
operations in such a manner as to nearly craze me. 
They stuck " closer than brothers," soon driving me 
from under cover of the blanket. While seated 
upon a log, up under the hill-side, meditating on 
the mutability of human affairs, a Tennesseean, who 
had taken considerable interest in my welfare, ap- 
proached me, and was soon engaged in conversa- 
tion. He expatiated on the situation in which we 
now found ourselves, and labored to prevail upon 
me to return with him to his '' cave" on the moun- 
tain. He held out many inducements. He had a 
fine rifle with him, and in his " cave" was an abun- 
dance of dried venison, corn, potatoes, etc. He 
promised to take good care of me, and at the first 
opportunity conduct me to the Union lines. This 
worthy mountaineer did his best to obtain my con- 
sent, but as he did not have accommodations for my 
three Yankee comrades, I declined to go with him. 



A FEARFUL CHARGE. 245 

He implored me to accompany him, saying that it 
would be impossible for me to go much farther, even 
though we were fortunate enough to escape from 
the Confederates. When he found that his argu- 
ment was useless, he pressed my hand tightly, and 
bidding me "good bye," commenced the ascent of 
the mountain, instantly disappearing in the dark- 
ness. 



CHAPTER XXXVn. 

GUERRILLAS *' CATCH US NAPPING." 

I SAT still in my revery, and while wondering as 
to what would transpire within the next twenty- 
four hours, the whole party below being asleep, I 
was suddenly alarmed on hearing hasty footsteps 
coming up the ravine. It was a villager, who shouted 
" Run ! run ! " In another moment, before any of us 
could realize the actual condition of things, all was 
commotion and confusion worse confounded. Hid- 
eous yells filled the air, while the heavy hoofs of a 
couple of hundred horses and the discharge of as 
many carbines made the " surprise" complete. The 
guerrillas, whom we had so skilfully evaded for the 
past four days, had at last discovered the place of 
our retreat, and were carrying on their hellish work, 
firing and slashing with their sabres, as they rode 
among the terrified and the helpless, sparing nei- 
ther sex, age, or condition. They had fallen upon 
us like " avenging thunderbolts from the blazing 



246 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

throne of Jupiter." The air was filled with whiz- 
zing bullets, but the demoniac yells of our cruel 
enemies were more appalling to my bewildered 
senses. 

Owing to the intense darkness it was impossible 
for me to discover anything except the repeated 
flashes from the fire-arms of the ruffians who had 
broken in so unceremoniously upon us. For the 
time I must have forgotten my bodily ailments, 
as I discovered myself running, sometimes falling, 
intent only on widening the distance between my- 
self and the enemy, from whom, if I was again cap- 
tured, I certainly had no right to expect any favors. 
For nearly six weeks I had undergone every fatigue, 
the greatest exposure, to regain liberty, and I de- 
termined to drop dead in my tracks, sooner than be 
taken back to die in a pestilential prison-pen. Con- 
fident that those yelping bushwhackers would feel 
especial delight in administering punishment to me, 
I ran as a man can run who feels that to linger 
means death or something worse. 

The bullets sped by me as I climbed up the 
dizzy height, their proximity accelerating my move- 
ments ; but by and by, when almost exhausted and 
apparently out of immediate danger, I sat down to 
extricate a piece of stick which had been forced into 
the fleshy part of my heel, my ill-fitting moccasins 
having fallen off while I was ascending the moun- 
tain. It caused me great agony to remove the stick 
from the flesh, but as I had often seen men with 
worse wounds, I made up my mind not to complain. 



I 



ALONE IN MY WRETCHEDNESS. 247 

Besides, who could I complain to ? Not a soul was 
within sight or hearing. What had become of my 
companions I knew not, neither had I any means of 
ascertaining. Not a sound now disturbed the quiet 
which reigned among those silent hills. I was alone 
in my wretchedness, and my poor heart almost 
ceased to beat. As the gray streaks of the morning 
lightened the eastern horizon I continued on, and 
when the sun rose, discovered that I had traveled 
quite a long distance, as I failed to recognize the 
country which was unfolded to my view. I knew 
that I was proceeding in the direction of Knoxville, 
because the sun was nearly at my back. Seeing a 
number of men driving cattle in the valley, I sat 
down upon a fallen tree, shielded from view by a 
large rock, and '' rested." 

As I sat in that awful wild, contemplating my 
wretchedness, a terrible fear took possession of my 
soul. I had no article of value in my possession, no 
money, no knife, no utensil in which to cook — noth- 
ing to cook, nothing to eat — and I could not tell 
which way to turn my mangled feet. The landscape 
before me seemed to have been cultivated for cen- 
turies, so symmetrical was the foliage, so beautiful 
were the vines trailing over the trees, yet with their 
manifold attractions they had but few charms for 
me. Under more favorable auspices I would doubt- 
less have been delighted with the charm of their 
loveliness. A river below me was fringed with 
trees, while in every direction was the blue stretch 
of far-away hills, or the shadow of woods. 



248 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

I was on the brink of despair, when I heard 
sounds of an approaching party, my heart standing 
still as I bent forward and peered over the hill to 
see what manner of men they were. When two 
hundred yards distant, I discovered that my good 
friend Major Davis headed the party, and bounding 
forward, I was soon in his embrace. Captain Lewis, 
too, was there, but Todd and Grant were absent, 
neither having been heard from since the fatal en- 
counter. Lewis warmly welcomed me, for he had 
believed himself the only Yankee who had escaped 
from the enemy. Where now were Todd and 
Grant ? 

But time was pressing, and we must continue on. 
Instead of the hundred and upwards who were with 
us but a few hours ago, only thirty-seven now re- 
mained. We kept close under the shadow of the 
mountains, as they would best afford us advantage 
in case we should be discovered and again attacked. 
The major was perfectly familiar with the country, 
and in plunging into the woods he readily discovered 
trails whose faint lines we of the city would soon 
have lost, but in which he easily kept. His rifle 
and revolver were still in his possession, while sev- 
eral others of the party retained their shot-guns, all 
of which would be of service either in procuring 
food, or as means of defense. At noon, after a fa- 
tiguing march, we took a rest, when it was decided 
that Knoxville must now be made our objective 
point. If we failed in reaching that place, nothing 
but a miracle would allow us to gain Chattanooga, 



k 



GOING FOR A PAIR OF SHOES. 249 

some two hundred and fifty miles away. We 
hastened on across creeks, over hills and slopes, de- 
termined to succeed. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

HOW I OBTAINED SHOES AND STOCKINGS. 

NEAR evening, the major entrusted me with 
his revolver, and soon after, while passing 
through a heavy woods, he narrated to me how a 
farmer, living near by, had killed one of his men but 
a few days previous. He pointed out to me the 
new-made mound, whereupon I solemnly swore that 
if I came across the murderer, I'd strip him of his 
shoes, if they were the only ones to be found in Ten- 
nessee. The major cautioned me to be careful how 
I acted, as Bryan — that was the fellow's name — wasn't 
" afraid of the devil himself." The possession of the 
revolver made me feel like braving the entire Con- 
federate army. Our party stopped at the various 
small farm-houses to obtain something to eat — the 
major, Lewis, and myself continuing on until we 
came to a creek which separated Bryan's farm from 
that of a neighbor. As we reached Bryan's place, 
he was pointed out to me as he sat on a three-legged 
stool milking a cow. I pushed open the antique- 
looking gate with a bang and entered the yard, my 
comrades going on to the house across the stream, 
where they promised to await me. 

Mr. Bryan, contrary to my expectation, failed to 



25Q FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

take notice of my approach. He remained seated, 
neither offering to rise or to " salute his superior 
officer." He continued milking, while I looked at 
his shoes. And such shoes ! They were about six 
inches too long and three inches too broad for my 
feet, but they were shoes, and as such I made up my 
mind to possess them. If I could not wear them 
some one else in the party could. I broke the 
frozen stillness by remarking that I was barefooted. 
** Yes," he replied, '' I kin see that." 

*'Well, old man," I continued, *' I have a long 
distance to travel, and it is highly necessary that I 
should have a pair of shoes before proceeding far- 
ther." 

Bryan looked at me sharply, manifesting some 
contempt, perhaps because I was small of stature. 
Not altogether liking his looks or his actions, I 
spoke more determinedly — thinking to frighten him 
— telling him not to ** put on any airs." I was suc- 
cessful in not frightening him, for the next instant 
he sprang from his stool, and in a great rage said 
" no un" could abuse him on his own property. He 
had no shoes for me, hardly any for himself. The 
pair on his feet he had finished but two weeks since, 
and he guessed " no un could take 'em." I became 
quite nervous at the fellow's conduct, and was satis- 
fied that peaceful means would never accomplish the 
laudable object I had in view. Suddenly elevating 
that ten-inch navy revolver to the immediate vicin- 
ity of his long proboscis, I sternly ordered him to 
*♦ get out of them shoes!" This proceeding on my 



A THE A TRICAL REPRESENTA TION. 2$ I 

part had the singular effect of causing him to make 
a sudden backward and ungraceful movement, in the 
course of which he tumbled over the old stool. I 
followed him closely, and told him not to make a 
fool of himself, meanwhile keeping the revolver 
pointed at his nose. 

I then informed him that I was a Yankee officer, 
and if he did not at once comply with my demand, 
and present me with those shoes, it would afford me 
great pleasure to blow off the top of his ugly-looking 
head, and bury him in the woods beside the grave of 
the Union soldier whom he had murdered. Bryan 
glanced at me like a wounded tiger as I told him 
this, and concluding that I was likely to carry this 
threat into execution, he untied the great leather 
strings forthwith. 

Mr. Bryan had just handed me one shoe, when 
his daughter, a pretty, red-cheeked girl of some 
eighteen summers, appeared as a new actor upon 
the scene. She was terribly frightened on seeing 
her father upon the ground, and a heavy revolver's 
mouth pointed directly at his face. The devoted 
girl sprang between us and earnestly begged me not 
to kill him. I endeavored to assuage her fears, but 
she refused to be comforted, and cried like a child, 
which almost tempted me to depart. I told her 
that I wanted a pair of shoes, and that much as I 
would like to oblige her, I could not think of leaving 
until I obtained them. 

" Spare my father," she said, "and I will procure 
you a pair of shoes." 



252 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

*' Do SO, my dear girl, and your parent shall live," 
replied I, in as pathetic a manner as possible. The 
fact was, I liked the girl's action — there was some- 
thing romantic about it. Besides, she doubtless 
sympathized with me, and if not with me, certainly 
with her papa : I did not care which, so long as I 
obtained the shoes. As I lowered the revolver, 
both the girl and her father acted as if they had 
experienced a decided relief. The young lady 
promptly invited me to accompany her to the 
house, but a few yards away, and I cheerfully fol- 
lowed, first cautioning the old man to finish milking 
the cow, and not to think of leaving his work until 
I returned. To prevent Bryan from playing any 
practical jokes, I took possession of his rifle, which I 
discovered leaning against the mantel-piece in the 
kitchen, and walking to the door exhibited the 
weapon to him, in order to prove that I was, for the 
nonce, master of his premises. 

The young lady and myself then proceeded to 
diligently search the house, even crawling about the 
garret, but no shoes could anywhere be found. Re- 
turning to the ground floor, she sat before me a tin 
pan filled with sweet-milk, inviting me to help my- 
self, and refreshed me with a large piece of newly- 
made cake, of which sorghum molasses was a liberal 
ingredient. I enjoyed the refreshments so gener- 
ously provided, and walking out to where the old 
man still sat, told him there was no help for it — 
bade him '' hand over the other shoe." On looking 
about, I discovered that he had, during my tempo- 



NO POE TR V ABO UT IT. 253 

rary absence, replaced the shoe upon his foot. I 
did not feel so bitter against Bryan now, for his 
daughter had been kind to me, and a full stomach 
always has the effect of making a man feel well- 
disposed towards all creation. Still, I had no idea 
of going away without shoes of some kind. As I 
approached the angry man, swinging the revolver 
meanwhile, his daughter again rushed to his side, 
importuning me to let her father retain his shoes, 
declaring they were all he had. 

^' If you must have shoes," she exclaimed, ''take 
mine! " 

The spirited girl manifested a spunk worthy of 
a better cause, and while I could not help admiring 
her behavior, I felt compelled to rule out her ex- 
ceptions. Taking a '' peep" at the shoes upon her 
feet, I became satisfied that they would prove too 
small — my feet being sore and swollen. The girl 
might at first have labored under the hallucination 
that I would not accept her offer, but when I re- 
moved one shoe and attempted to put it on, she 
discovered that I was dreadfully in earnest about 
the matter, and she cried as if her poor little heart 
would break. The poetry in her hitherto pretty 
face disappeared all of a sudden, and instead of 
sweet words she bitterly denounced '' Yankees." 
Finding I could not get her shoe on my foot, I re- 
turned it, bidding her '' dry up," as her tears would 
now have no influence with me — neither would they 
preserve her father's shoes to him. I told her I 
needed them — that I was a thousand miles from 



254 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. . 

home, and that further talk would be entirely use- 
less. 

I smiled as I saw the old man climb out of that 
pair of " gun-boats," as Lewis wickedly called them 
when he first saw me in them. Bryan handed the 
shoes to me, although I was afraid he would fling 
them at my head — he was so indignant, but he 
swore he would have '* satisfaction." Raising his 
pail of milk to my mouth and taking a refresh- 
ing draught therefrom, I gathered up the two '' tan- 
yards," and walking backwards to the roadway, 
bade the couple an affectionate farewell, promis- 
ing if I ever again happened along that way to call 
and spend a night with them. I would have tipped 
my hat to the fair girl, but, unfortunately, I did not 
happen to have such an article of dress about me. 

I walked rapidly and good-humoredly to the 
house where Davis and Lewis had stopped for " re- 
freshments," and at the farther end of a long and 
ancient-looking hallway I saw those worthies eating 
supper, and acting generally as if they were " at 
home." While passing through the hallway, which 
was somewhat darkened, I was suddenly confronted 
by a tall, raw-boned man, whom I subsequently 
learned was the proprietor of the mansion. I never 
spoke more politely in my life, and yet when I asked 
him for a pair of stockings, he paid no heed to my 
request ; on the contrary, he attempted to pass by 
me, towards the front door, which I found wide 
open at the time of my entrance. I sprang in front 
of him and repeated my request, whereupon he told 



PRESENTED WITH A PAIR OF STOCKINGS. 255 

me he had " no stockings." I knew he lied, and 
when I told him so, he actually grew furious, and 
had I interposed no objection, I verily believe he 
would have been unkind enough to do me bodily 
harm. 

Springing aside, I raised the revolver on a direct 
line with his optics, and giving him a shove, the 
next instant he was surprised to find himself doubled 
up on a large settee. The fellow, nearly choked with 
rage, gritted his teeth as he divested himself of his 
long gray woollen stockings — each about two feet in 
length — and kindly gave them to me. Such thor- 
ough unselfishness I had never before witnessed. 
I would have exchanged shoes with him, but on a 
careful examination found that the pair which Mr. 
Bryan had presented me were several inches smaller 
than those just taken off by my new-found friend. 

With the shoes and stockings I hastened to the 
barn-yard, where I procured a quantity of straw ; 
then repaired to the babbling brook in front of the 
house, washed my poor feet, put on the stockings, 
padded the shoes with the straw, inserted my feet 
into the same, and marched boldly into the man- 
sion. I met Lewis as he came out of the dining;- 
room, and being overjoyed at my good fortune, 
stepped gently on one of his toes. He saw the 
point at once, and congratulated me on my success. 
He wanted to know where I had got the stockings, 
so I told him. Inquiring "how?" I pointed signifi- 
cantly to the revolver, which he wanted to borrow 
in order to try a similar experiment ; but having 



256 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

been enjoined by the major not to allow the weapon 
to leave my possession, I declined to accede to his 
request. 

Entering the dining apartment, I seated myself 
at the table, directly opposite my benefactor, who 
eyed me very sharply considering our limited ac- 
quaintance. He looked as if he was in deep trouble 
of some kind, so I refrained from vexing his soul. 
I felt cheerful enough to converse with him, but a 
casual glance showed me that my friend was not 
disposed to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance. 
I partook of his hospitality, however, eating heartily 
of the tempting food, because it was uncertain when 
I should again fare in as sumptuous a manner — an 
aged colored woman being unremitting in her atten- 
tions to me. 

When the party had again re-assembled, we told 
our surly host that we intended to remain in the 
neighborhood until morning, and that if he or any 
of his folks attempted to leave the premises during 
the night, they would be shot. I walked over to 
Bryan's and imparted the same information to that 
gentleman, taking especial pains to whirl the re- 
volver under his chin, as I pointed to the spot across 
the brook, where we would encamp until morning. 
I walked leisurely back to the party, which had in 
the meantime kindled several fires to deceive the 
neighborhood, and when the sun rose next morning 
we were fully fifteen miles away. 

At midnight, while crossing a log, which spanned 
a sluggish stream, I lost my footing, and slipped off, 



A NOBLE-HEARTED PEOPLE. 259 

falling with a splash into the water. I succeeded in 
getting out with a little assistance, but I could walk 
no farther in the heavy shoes, as they proved alto- 
gether unfit for my use. I cheerfully gave them to 
a Tennesseean, who was grateful therefor. 

Our discomforts were increased next day by a 
rain-storm, which rendered our tramp still more dis- 
tressing. The swollen streams added to our per- 
plexities, several of them being crossed with great 
difficulty as well as some danger. During the day 
we heard heavy firing to our right, which proved 
that we still had a chance of reaching Knoxville in 
advance of the enemy, as his progress seemed to be 
stubbornly contested. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

A NOBLE-HEARTED PEOPLE. 

IN the early evening, our jaded party reached 
Squire Gwinn's, a very comfortable place, having 
accomplished the extraordinary distance of thirty- 
seven miles since starting. We found the kind- 
hearted squire and the members of his family in a 
high state of excitement, consequent upon the fall- 
ing back of our forces from Bull Gap, heretofore 
considered an impregnable position. A large num- 
ber of the squire's neighbors visited him during 
the evening, all in an intense state of alarm. Many 



26o FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

came over mounted upon horses, while several drove 
their cattle before them, all anxious to save their 
property. I felt sorry for these long-suffering peo- 
ple, who had made greater sacrifices than those of 
any other section. They had contributed men and 
means for carrying on the war of the Union, which 
cause they regarded as of more importance than life 
itself. The people of East Tennessee were as heroic 
as any who ever lived. May they never experience 
war's sorrows again. 

At midnight a kind woman furnished me a good 
supper, for which I blessed her, not possessing any 
tokens current among the merchants. We were in 
a quandary, not knowing whether to continue on in 
the darkness or wait for the approach of day. Our 
counsels were divided, some advocating one thing, 
some another. It was finally decided to halt where 
we were until daylight. 

My feet were terribly lacerated, and the weather 
cold and disagreeable. The thought that but a few 
miles only intervened between me and our army 
alone served to keep me up. Those who saw my 
condition expressed pity for me, but pity did not 
make me warmer or otherwise relieve my distress. 
I wanted clothing and shoes and medical attention. 
Whether I should ever receive them, God alone 
knew. With these thoughts harrowing my soul, I 
laid down in some hay under a cow-shed, but no 
sleep came to refresh me or cause me to forget my 
afflictions. 

The weather next morning was still disagreea- 



IN HOT PURSUIT. 261 

ble, not at all calculated to inspire us with hope. 
At daybreak the probability of danger was intensi- 
fied by the firing of musketry, which we now plainly 
heard, showing conclusively that the enemy was 
but a short distance away. We immediately recom- 
menced our journey, travelling hastily. I had great 
difficulty in hobbling along, and was the subject of 
much solicitude, all encouraging me to " keep up." 

Towards noon we crossed Pigeon River, and soon 
afterwards reached the farm-house and mill of a 
Mr. Snap, a most romantic-looking spot. Mr. Snap 
furnished us with a quantity of wheat flour, and after 
I had promised to write to his son George, Con- 
federate prisoner of war at Rock Island, Illinois, 
he gave me several plugs of tobacco, which I es- 
teemed as more precious than so much bread. 

While resting at the mill, a neighbor arrived, re- 
porting that Confederate horsemen were but a short 
distance away ; and not being anxious to meet them, 
we at once departed and kept a sharp lookout for 
the enemy, of whom we now stood in constant and 
terrible dread. Marching along under the hills, we 
succeeded in flanking Sevierville, leaving that town 
to our right. An hour afterwards we learned from 
a citizen who had escaped from Sevierville that the 
enemy's cavalry had possession of the place, and 
were sacking the post-office when he left. He ad- 
vised us to make all possible haste, as the surround- 
ing country was sure to be overrun by the Confed- 
erates, who were elated over their victory at Blue 
Lick Springs and along the line of the railroad. 



262 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

Not a moment was to be lost, if we would reach 
Knoxville, now but a few miles distant. 

After dark we reached the house of a Mr. 
Thomas, where we found a large party of neighbors 
assembled, among whom intense excitement pre- 
vailed. Mr. Thomas packed up his most valuable 
effects and secreted them about the place ; and after 
the refugees had partaken of food, provided in abun- 
dance, we resumed the journey, marching rapidly. 

Oh, what hopes, what fears, what misgivings I 
now had for the possibilities of the next twenty-four 
hours ! It was now life or death, home or prison. 
I had escaped so many perils that I was now more 
confident than ever of reaching a place of safety. 
For many weeks I had toiled and struggled, wearily 
plodding through swamps, crossing rivers, and la- 
boriously traversing hills and mountains, often in 
imminent danger, weak, sick, and nearly starved, 
and it could not be that the kind Providence which 
had protected, shielded, and conducted me through 
all this, would now desert me in the hour of supreme 
need. A gracious God, I firmly believed, would 
continue his watchful care and deliver me in His 
own good time from the hands of the Philistines. I 
had too often been the recipient of His great kind- 
ness, had been fed apparently by His hand, when 
human assistance was hardly to be expected, much 
less relied on. He had protected me from storms of 
bullets, from pestilence, from flood, and mercifully 
saved me from recapture — from death. I could con- 
fidently trust in Him again — and I did, implicitly. 



" RICHARD'S HIMSELF A GAIN." 263 

Daylight found us hurrying along to the goal of 
our fondest hopes. As I stopped by the roadside 
to extract a splinter from a bleeding toe, Mr. Thomas 
rode up and insisted upon my mounting the young 
horse he bestrode. I thanked him, and in another 
moment was astride the unsaddled beast. This was 
another interposition of Providence in my behalf, 
for which I was deeply thankful. Had I now seen 
the entire Confederate army in my path, I would 
not have hesitated in making the attempt to dash 
through its line. I felt like daring anything, now 
that I had a good horse under me. An ounce of 
lead would be the only thing that would tempt me 
to dismount until I was safe beyond peradventure. 
I had not felt as much confidence in myself since the 
sixth of last May, when, in command of the skirmish 
line which preceded the army of the James on its 
march up Bermuda Hundred,! discovered the taper- 
ing spires of Petersburg a few miles in my front. 

Thus mounted, I rode slowly along in advance 
of the party, who traveled with difficulty, owing to 
the presence of many women and children, burdened 
with household effects which they were anxious to 
save from the spoiler. 

We were getting along finely when some of the 
mountaineers got into another difificulty. Attracted 
by loud shouting, I galloped back, and found some 
twenty men engaged in combat. They refused to 
cease fighting, and as I did not care about having 
my head broke, I stood one side and patiently 
awaited a termination of the unnatural conflict. 



264 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

One man received a fearful cut in his shoulder, 
while others were more or less injured in the mel^. 
I confess my confidence in human nature was now 
somewhat shaken, and I longed for the hour to ar- 
rive when I should be delivered from my friends as 
well as my enemies, as I was now equally afraid of 
both. 



CHAPTER XL. 
hail! flag of the free! 

ABOUT the middle of the afternoon Mr. Thomas 
informed me that we could not now be very 
far from our piquet, and as I was the best mounted 
man in the party, and would be more likely to know 
how best to approach the '* blue-coats," he sug- 
gested that I "ride ahead and take observations." 
How my heart leaped as I dashed along on what 
was called the " Rock Road." 

*' Alone, but with unabated zeal, 
That horseman plied the scourge and steel. 
Away, away, my steed and I, 
Upon the pinions of the wind, 
All human dwellings left behind ; 
He sped like meteors through the sky." 

A clearing suddenly afforded me a glimpse of a 
city set upon a hill, and looking, I beheld, not more 
than two or three miles away, my country's flag. 



A GLADSOME SIGHT. 26$ 

*' Flag of the brave ! thy folds shall fly, 
The sign of hope and triumph high ! 
Flag of the free heart's hope and home, 
By angel hands to valor given, 
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, 
And all thy lives were born in heaven. 
Forever float that standard sheet ! 
Where breathes the foe but falls before us. 
With Freedom's soil beneath our feet. 
And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us !" 

Imagine my feelings as I beheld the glorious em- 
blem streaming majestically from a huge earthwork 
a mile or so away. I breathed a fervent prayer, then 
and there, that mine eyes had again been permitted 
to behold its glory. Months had elapsed since I had 
witnessed such a sight. I now felt like a man, and 
that life was still worth all the sacrifices I had made 
to retain it. Under that flag gleamed bristling bay- 
onets — under it, too, were loud dogs of war. 

My horse, whose headlong gait I had checked 
on seeing the glorious sight just described, remained 
motionless, allowing me to gaze upon the beauti- 
ful and gladsome spectacle. I could hardly restrain 
loud expressions of joy and check my ardor. My 
first impulse, on awakening to a reality of the scene 
before me, was to gallop on, leaving the party to 
enter the lines as best they could, but on reflection 
I decided to await their arrival ; besides it was but 
just that I should return the horse to its owner, es- 
pecially as Mr. Thomas had been very kind to me in 
the hour of my greatest need. In the course of half 
an hour the party reached me, when, in the exuber- 



266 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

ance of the joy which had taken possession of my 
soul, I proposed three cheers for the flag we all loved 
so well. The woods rang again and again with the 
echoes. 

Mr. Thomas insisted upon my riding forward 
until the piquets were reached — so away I went. A 
gallop over the flinty road for half a mile brought 
me within sight of Union soldiers — a squad of whom 
were standing in a menacing attitude in the middle 
of the road. 

I could not account for their actions. Evidently 
something was wrong. It could not be that they 
were afraid of me ! I rode slowly forward, descend- 
ing a hill, and when I reached the gulley I was sum- 
moned to " halt !" 

I never obeyed a summons more cheerfully. An 
oflicer now advanced down the hill, having in his 
hand a heavy revolver, and when within a few yards, 
demanded to know who I was. I answered " An 
officer who has escaped from Charleston." Evi- 
dently he did not credit my statement, as he imme- 
diately raised his weapon and bade me " dismount ;" 
with which summary request I instantly complied. 

It was but the work of a moment to satisfy that 
Pennsylvania lieutenant of my identity ; and after a 
hearty grasp of the hand he jerked off his canteen 
and insisted upon my taking a drink of " commis- 
sary," but I declined his proffered hospitality, saying 
I did not drink liquor. He called to his men and 
they ran to his side, and on learning who I was and 
where I came from, their joy knew no bounds. 



SAFE AT LAST. 26/ 

When Lewis and the rest of the party came up 
introductions followed, after which I requested the 
lieutenant to send an escort with us to the city. 
He promptly complied, and we were soon on our 
way — safe wit km the Union lines I Just before we 
reached the bridge which spanned the Holston 
River, our party was stopped by the provost guard, 
who refused to allow any but Lewis and myself and 
the *' escort" to proceed to the city. In less than 
an hour afterwards, Lewis and myself were seated 
upon a sofa in the office of General Carter, Provost- 
Marshal General of Tennessee. 

The general at first regarded our story with sus- 
picion, but I speedily satisfied him with my cre- 
dentials — my commission, note-book, etc. He was 
full of wonder, and thought it the most remarka- 
ble journey he had ever heard of. He called in the 
members of his staff and introduced us, and insisted 
on hearing all about our tramp, notwithstanding 
the fact that his supper had already been served on 
a marble-top table in the centre of the apartment. 
We briefly recounted our adventures, all the time 
expecting that the lice with which we were covered 
would scatter among the healthy-looking staff-offi- 
cers. In imagination I could see the vermin march- 
ing in close-column by divisions over the sofa on 
which the general and myself closely sat. I kept 
edging away, but the old soldier was so much inter- 
ested in my narrative, that he followed me inch by 
inch, until I could move no farther. 

Finally, the darkey servant, ** begging pardon," 



268 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

called the general's attention to the supper, long 
since grown cold, when the old soldier sprang up as 
if he had been shot, declaring he had forgotten all 
about it, and insisted upon our supping with him. 
We declined, saying that our greatest desire at pres- 
ent was to strip ourselves of our ragged and filthy- 
apparel — our chief ambition, to enjoy the luxury of 
a bath, and to procure a clean suit of clothes, no 
matter how coarse or common. 

Begging *'ten thousand pardons," he sprang to 
his desk, and wrote to Captain Whitman, A. Q. M., 
directing him to furnish us with what articles of 
clothing we needed. We thanked the general for 
his kindness, and with the order in my hand — I had 
no pockets in my pants or blouse — hastened to the 
quartermaster's department, where our every want 
was promptly supplied. 

Packing up the articles in paper, and holding the 
bundles at arm's-length, for fear of invasion by the 
vermin, we went in search of a barber's shop. Just 
think of it, a barber's shop ! 

Espying a saloon, we entered, and as we ap- 
proached the colored tonsorial artist, he recoiled 
from us. Appearances were against us, but it would 
not do to be backward. I informed the barber that 
we had- just come in from South Carolina; that we 
were without money, but that we would be everlast- 
ingly grateful to him for a shave. He walked, in 
the most deliberate manner, to the front door, 
opened it, and told us to "• leave de shop !" He 
looked at us fiercely, and when he found that we 



RESCUED BY A CAVALR YMAN. 269 

did not pay any attention to his order, he threatened 
to call a ** guard." He was the first darkey who had 
ever treated me meanly, and I told him so. He 
blustered around " like a hen with its head off," un- 
til I told him that we would " pay him to-morrow," 
when he became fairly enraged, saying he wouldn't 
" shave a rebel for all de money in de town !" 

" Rebel !" Ah ! that, then, was the secret of his 
rude behavior to us. We told him we were officers 
— officers of the army of the James — who had es- 
caped from a prison in South Carolina. By this 
time a soldier, a Tennessee cavalryman, who was 
sitting in the barber's chair, came to our rescue. He 
said: "Boys, I hain't got much, but here's a dollar 
greenback, which you are welcome to." He com- 
pelled us to accept it, and refused to take the chair 
again until Lewis and myself had been attended to, 
my comrade entertaining him and the now happy 
barber, while the latter cut my hair and shaved my 
long-neglected face. When the artist had fixed us 
up, we tendered him the dollar which the cavalry- 
man had just given us, but he generously refused 
to take payment for his valuable services. He re- 
gretted he had no bath-tubs, but directed us where 
to go for them. 

Reaching the other shop, we found the proprie- 
tor closing for the night. We told him our story, 
and he '* took us in," doing all in his power for us. 
While he was getting the bath-tubs ready, Lewis 
and I removed our worn-out apparel, placing it upon 
the floor; and on the barber's return we were watch- 



270 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

ing the sportive antics of the millions of lice which 
had borne us conapany for the past six months. The 
poor barber, after a glance at the " situation," held 
up his hands in horror, and almost went into a fit. 
" My God ! gentlemen," said he, watching the front 
door, " if this was known I'd be ruined, for no one 
would ever come in here again." Seizing a pair of 
iron tongs he saturated the cast-off clothing with 
camphene, and removed the rags to the street, where, 
in a moment afterwards, they were in a bright blaze 
— neither Lewis nor myself shedding a tear at the 
terrible fate of those who had stuck so closely to us. 

After the fullest enjoyment of a first-class bath 
— the first we had had in nearly a year — we arrayed 
ourselves in clean suits of Uncle Sam's shoddy. 
Procuring and fastening bars upon the collars of our 
blouses, and wrapping our blankets around us, we 
thanked our colored friend for his kindness to us, 
then emerged into the street. But how different in 
appearance and feeling from what we had been an 
hour or so ago ! 

It was now nearly ten o'clock ; the stores were 
mostly closed, but still there were many people 
upon the streets. Mounted men galloped hurriedly 
hither and thither, while pieces of artillery were 
dragged rapidly along with a thundering noise. On 
some of the thoroughfares long lines of troops 
" rested " along the curb. We paid little attention 
to these things — our objective point being to find 
a decent hotels and as good luck would have it, we 
soon stumbled upon the " Franklin House." 



A SENSATION. 27 1 

CHAPTER XLI. 

THREATENED WITH THE GUARD-HOUSE. 

ENTERING, we found the reception room crowd- 
ed with officers, each of whom acted as if the 
cares of the entire world rested upon his individual 
shoulders. Others came in bearing packages and 
new valises, which convinced us that many of those 
present had but recently earned or received the 
right to wear straps upon their shoulders. Others 
who came in looked as if they had had a hard time 
of it, with plenty of work still on hand. It was some 
time before Lewis and I could make our way to 
the book-keeper's desk, owing to the crowd which 
stood before the *' opening." 

At length, succeeding in elbowing our way to 
the centre, I inquired if we could be provided with 
accommodations. The book-keeper, peering at us, 
looked as if he wanted to say " no room ! " But he 
didn't. He said he would do the best he could for 
us. Not caring to let the crowd know that we were 
impecunious, I whispered to the book-keeper that 
we were entirely without funds. " Without money !** 
exclaimed the clerk, loud enough to be heard across 
the room ; " How do you expect us to run a hotel if 
travelers do not pay ?" 

Of course the attention of the officers near by was 
attracted towards us, and as I saw several of them 



2/2 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE, 

smile and wink at the clerk, I felt that we were at a 
disadvantage. It was not pleasant to beg a night's 
lodging at a large hotel, and I at once saw the diffi- 
culties under which we would labor until we came 
across a paymaster who would be good enough to 
give us some of our back-pay on account. One of 
the officers, who had noticed the bars on my blouse, 
came up, and said quite saucily : *' Say, young fel- 
low, what are you doing with those bars on your 
shoulders?" 

As I did not like his bearing, I replied that I had 
a right to wear them. This didn't satisfy the officer, 
who now imagining he was going to have some fun, 
asked what I was '' doing in a private's uniform?" 
The crowd who had now gathered about looked as if 
they would like to bounce us, and as I thought their 
jokes had been carried far enough, I straightened 
myself up, weak as I was, and replied that I had just 
received the clothing from the quartermaster, and 
that whether it suited them or not, it would answer 
my purpose until I could get to my home. 

" Home !" ejaculated another young officer, who 
regarded Lewis and myself as frauds, " pray, where 
is your home ? Now, this little game of your's won't 
work here ; it's been tried too often. If you don't 
take off those bars and get back to camp I'll take 
charge of you both." 

As things were now approaching a crisis, I 
deemed a full explanation necessary to our comfort ; 
so bracing my back against the counter, I faced the 
crowd, and said : 



AMONG FRIENDS. 2^% 

" Gentlemen, we are officers of the army of the 
James. [It was just fun to see that crowd open 
their eyes and stare, as they closed in upon us.] 
We got away from the ' Johnnies' near Charleston, 
South Carolina, on the sixth day of last October, 
and after a pretty hard tramp through the swamps 
of that State, and over the mountains of North 
Carolina and East Tennessee, we succeeded in 
reaching this place early this evening — reporting, 
on arrival, to General Carter. If you want other 
evidence look at this — it is one of my commissions 
as an officer of the Ninth New Jersey Veteran Vol- 
unteers." 

That was enough, and it proved to be the best 
speech I ever made. The officers, one after an- 
other, pressed forward, grasping our hands and ex- 
tending hearty congratulations. The officer who, a 
few minutes before, had been so anxious to remove 
the bars from my blouse, carried me around and 
behind the great counter, where he seated me in a 
chair ; then withdrawing two handsome linen shirts 
from a valise, insisted upon my acceptance of the 
same. I firmly declined the shirts, saying I pre- 
ferred the warm woollen ones the quartermaster 
had supplied me with. My new-found friend then 
directed the book-keeper to register our names, 
pledging himself to pay all the expenses which we 
might incur. 

By this time everybody in the Franklin House 
had learned about our "escape," and but little else 
was talked about. A handsome staff-officer waited 



274 P^ST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

upon Lewis and myself, saying it would afford Gen- 
eral Gillem pleasure to receive us at his table in the 
dining-room, and we were escorted thither. The 
general warmly welcomed us, and when we were 
seated at his side, he asked us to tell him about our 
trip. We did so briefly. When he ascertained that 
we knew something of Breckinridge's movements, 
he manifested unusual interest in our remarks. We 
gave him all the information at hand, and our opin- 
ion that Breckinridge was simply on a foraging ex- 
cursion, as his loaded wagons and the cattle which 
had been gathered in the valley had all gone back 
towards Virginia. 

General Gillem expressed himself as much pleased 
with the information we had given him, and before 
we retired he invited Lewis and myself to serve on 
his staff during the operations he was about to make. 
We thanked him for this mark of his esteem and 
confidence, and assured him that nothing would 
afford us greater pleasure than to render such assist- 
ance as we might be capable of. 

After supper, we sauntered out to the reception 
room, and were enthusiastically greeted. A dozen 
first-class fellows devoted themselves to us; and 
after placing ourselves behind two huge imported 
cigars, Lewis and myself were compelled to give 
some of the particulars of our thousand-mile march 
through the States held by the enemy, without 
weapons of defence, compass, or guide. 

Lieutenant D. M. Nelson, adjutant of a Tennes- 
see regiment, compelled me, at a late hour, to 



IN CLOVER. 275 

accompany him down the street to a shoe store, and 
after rousing the proprietor thereof, purchased a 
pair of handsome kid shoes, which I was forced to 
accept. The adjutant then escorted me to a fur- 
nishing store, where he made purchases of linen 
collars, silk socks, necktie, handkerchiefs, etc., act- 
ing as if he could not do enough for me. Adjutant 
Nelson's great kindness will never be forgotten by 
me. 

It was after midnight when Lewis and I repaired 
to our room, one of the best in the house, and 
crawled in between clean white sheets — the first we 
had seen for many months. It is needless to say 
that we passed the remainder of the night in the 
most comfortable manner, and that we continually 
dreamed of the loved ones at home. Loved ones 
from whom I had not heard a single word since the 
day before my capture. 

After preparing our toilet next morning — ^just 
imagine us combing and brushing our hair and teeth 
once more — we went down to the breakfast room, 
but could do no sort of justice to the good things 
set before us by the attentive waiter. For the first 
time in months we had no appetite. Had we still 
been wandering in the fields and swamps, I suppose 
we would have appreciated anything set before us. 
As it was, I sipped a little of the fragrant coffee, 
and this affected me very unpleasantly. 

After breakfast, we took a short walk, visiting 
Parson Brownlow's printing office. 

The patriotic " Parson" was not in, but we were 



276 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

handsomely entertained by Mr. Tilghman Haws, his 
partner, who wrote an account of our wanderings, 
which was pubHshed in The Whig. 

The streets were filled with troops from Chatta- 
nooga, passing through the fortifications on the 
east side of the town. At noon, learning that Gen- 
eral Gillem would not make a forward movement 
for a day or two, we applied for and received orders 
for transportation, the provost-marshal-general di- 
recting us to report to the adjutant-general at 
Washington, D. C. 

Owing to the danger of forwarding trains to 
Chattanooga, we found it impossible to leave the 
city, and were compelled to loiter about until next 
morning. We met agreeable company, however, 
and were waited upon by many officers, together 
with several newspaper correspondents, the latter 
writing handsomely of our tramp, endurance, and 
courage. During the evening I wrote to my wife 
and parents, also to Colonel James Stewart, jr., and 
Captain Jonathan Townley, jr., of the Ninth Regi- 
ment, for whom I had long entertained the warm- 
est regard. I knew not whether any of them were 
living, neither did I know that the gallant Zabriskie, 
or Harris or Carroll or Lawrence were killed the 
morning I was captured. I wrote with fear and 
misgivings, and a few days afterward was rejoiced to 
receive replies from Stewart and Townley, both of 
whom had been preserved for continued usefulness. 

We were aroused from slumber at six o'clock, 
by a waiter who had sung out at the top of his 



IN A TERRIBLE STRAIT. 277 

voice, " Train all ready, gemmen. Hurry up, if 
you want to go to Chattanoogy !" This was good 
news to us ; so springing out we quickly dressed, and 
after a hurried bite at the table, we thanked the 
proprietor for his kindness, and bidding *' good bye" 
to all who stood around, we stepped into the car- 
riage which awaited us at the door, and in another 
moment were whirling at a rapid rate towards the 
depot, which, fortunately, we reached in the nick 
of time. 

The ride to historic Chattanooga, which place 
we reached, after a terrible jolting, at about eight 
o'clock in the evening, was without interest. It 
rained hard all day, and in places the railroad, not 
in very good condition, was flooded. Walking into 
the '' Crutchfield House," we asked for supper and 
lodgings, which the lady proprietress kindly ac- 
corded. We retired early. 

Next morning I made my way to the table, and 
not being able to eat, took a walk to create an ap- 
petite. I gazed into the rapidly flowing Tennessee 
River, flooded by the recent rains, and beheld 
*' Lookout Mountain" with rapturous delight. While 
sitting under an old barrack shed, to escape the rain, 
I was suddenly attacked by terrible cramps in my 
stomach. Lewis, greatly alarmed, and being weak 
himself, was unable to remove me to the hotel : he 
thought my " time had come." He did all in his 
power to relieve my distress, which doubled me up 
like a ball, almost driving the breath out of my 
emaciated body. Lewis, aided by an old darkey, 



2/8 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

who happened near, finally succeeded in getting me 
back to the ** Crutchfield House," where I was put 
to bed, receiving every attention. The surgeon 
who was summoned told my comrade that I had one 
chance in a thousand. " If that is so," said Lewis, 
*' then he's all right — he'll be sure to take that 
chance." Would I be able to hold out for a week 
longer was the question which constantly presented 
itself to me, as I lay there racking with excruciating 
pains. 

The storm continued, raising the flood in the 
Tennessee River to an unusual height, and it sud- 
denly became quite cold. At noon news of an 
alarming character reached Chattanooga. Hood 
was reported marching upon Nashville. This gave 
me additional distress of mind. Unless I could get 
beyond that city before his arrival there, the chances 
for getting to Washington would indeed be slim. 
There is no doubt but that I was terribly homesick, 
and the thought of remaining at Chattanooga or 
again returning to Knoxville, caused me intense 
anguish. With a desperate effort I rose from bed, 
and was soon at the depot, where fortunately I 
found a train of empty freight-cars just ready to 
start for Nashville. The sergeant in charge granted 
Lewis and myself permission to take passage in the 
caboose, the ride being the roughest I ever experi- 
enced. A little cast-iron stove, glowing with heat, 
dried our apparel and kept us warm. After dark, 
one of the guards, commiserating my wretched 
condition and animated by pity, made me a bed of 



LOUISVILLE REACHED, 2'jg 

blankets on the floor of the caboose, alongside the 
stove, and attended to my many wants until day- 
light. I was unable to sleep, owing to my pains 
and the jolting of the cars, which I imagined was off 
the track half of the time. Had the wheels been 
bouncing along on the ties, the jolting I verily be- 
lieved could not have been very much worse. I 
thanked Heaven when the train finally stopped at 
Nashville, at daylight. 



CHAPTER XLH. 

NO foolin' dis time! 

DISEMBARKING, Lewis and I went in search 
of a train on which we could proceed to Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, being anxious to get home. Every- 
body was rushing about in an excited manner, and 
when I stopped an old colored man and asked what 
was *' going on," he looked at me incredulously for 
a moment, then said : " Don't yer no nothin' bout 
dis, mass'r? Why, whar's ye bin, chile. Why, Jin- 
ral Hood is comin' wid a big foace to captur dis 
citee, an he ain't far off, eider. Ebery man is gettin* 
reddy to fite now, mass'r. No foolin' dis time — no, 
sah ! " And away he went. 

Snow now began falling, and as we could not 
ascertain when any train would leave, we went to 
the '' Suwawnee House" to rest awhile. Here we 
saw a poster forbidding any person to leave the city. 



28o FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

As this order applied to us, as well as to any others, 
it gave me additional worriment — just as if I had 
not enough trouble already ! I was in no condition 
to assist in the defence of the place, and a thousand 
times since have I regretted this, as I should have 
liked to participate in the battle of Franklin, where 
Hood received such a handsome thrashing at the 
hands of brave and gallant Thomas. 

Visiting the office of the provost-marshal I ex- 
hibited my *' papers" to that official, who very kindly 
as well as properly, granted me a permit to^eave the 
city and continue my journey. I lost no time in 
reaching the depot, but at what hour I left I have 
no means of knowing, being too sick to use my diary 
further. Somehow I got separated from Lewis in 
Nashville, and I did not run across him again till 
1873, when hearing that he was living in Connecti- 
cut, I invited him to visit me at Cape May, which he 
did, for a week, when we drank many "■ bumpers" in 
dry Heidsieck. 

I remember crossing a river at Louisville on a 
singular looking ferry-boat, and a weary ascent of a 
hill to the depot on the opposite side ; and I likewise 
recollect stopping near the depot entrance to rest on 
a wooden settee, too much exhausted to continue 
on. And on recovering from a stupdr, I remember 
two officers who sat there supporting me from falling, 
one of whom was engaged in bathing my fevered 
head with water. They spoke kindly to me, asking 
me many questions ; although I plainly heard them, 
yet I was unable to answer. They finally examined 



NOBLE-HEARTED OFFICERS. 28 1 

my '' papers," which explained everything ; then 
they were more devoted than before. One of the 
officers brought me some eatables and a cup of 
coffee, but I had no appetite, and could not eat. 
In obedience to my request, they brought me a 
*' pickle," and on taking it in my hand my weak 
stomach turned against it. 

These two officers, as I subsequently ascertained, 
were from the camp at Pittsburg, Pa., to which 
place they were returning, having recently brought 
down to the army a number of *' recruits." The 
name of one of the officers I found, years after- 
wards, written in my diary. It was " M. B. Lynch, 
1st Lieut. 183d Pennsylvania Vols., Camp Reynolds, 
near Pittsburg, Pa., No. 13 10 South 7th Street, Phil- 
adelphia." On discovering the address, I wrote to 
Lieut. Lynch, but failed to receive an answer. The 
" guards " who accompanied them were a good set 
of boys. When the passenger train was about ready 
to start, my new-found friends raised me to my feet, 
and walking on either side, supported me by my 
arms until the gate was reached, where our farther 
advance was barred by the keeper thereof, who pro- 
claimed that "■ no soldiers would be allowed on this 
train." 

The conductor stood near, watch in hand, count- 
ing the moments, ready to give the signal for the 
train to start. He answered the hail of the officers, 
and drawing near was informed that I was a *' sick 
officer, too feeble to ride in a freight train with 
them." The conductor couldn't '' help it ;" he had 



282 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

his orders, and must obey. The two officers, in 
quite forcible language, said that I should ride on 
that train, and as a number of their men stood near, 
they ordered them to ** open that gate." The gate 
was opened in less time than it takes me to write it, 
when I was carried through and placed in a com- 
fortable seat in a pleasant car, the passengers won- 
dering meantime what the railroad men were making 
" all that noise about." 

Lieutenant Lynch, I suppose it was, went to the 
car platform, and after directing his sergeant to 
follow with his train, returned and took a seat be- 
side me, saying he and his chum would accompany 
me as far as they could. My heart has often 
warmed towards those noble men, and the memory 
of their repeated kindnesses I shall carry to the 
grave. 

During the evening we reached Seymour, In- 
diana, and changed cars ; and while waiting for the 
train to arrive on which we were to continue our 
journey, I was cared for at a hotel by the kind- 
hearted landlord's wife, a physician who was sum- 
moned to my aid, and the two officers, who never 
left me for a moment, not even when I was napping. 
When ready to depart, the officers carried me (using 
my blanket as a stretcher) to the train. 

I have an indistinct recollection of being in Cin- 
cinnati, through the streets of which I rode in a 
carriage, attended by the two officers, but at what 
point they left me I never could ascertain. It must 
have been Lieutenant Lynch who, just before leav- 



THE CAPITAL REACHED. 285 

ing, gave me a five-dollar greenback, regretting 
he had no more to offer. I hope both he and his 
companion, whoever he may have been, have been 
abundantly blessed. 

I remember, while riding in a train on the Bal- 
timore and Ohio Railroad, before reaching Harper's 
Ferry, that a kind-hearted Virginian who lived in 
that section, invited me to stop at his station and 
accompany him home until I could recruit my 
wasted strength. I remember how he pleaded with 
me, and how other passengers joined with him, pro- 
testing against my going on until I was stronger. 
Home was the only place I now longed to see, and 
to my home I was determined to go, if only to drop 
dead at its threshold. I thanked the noble Vir- 
ginian for his interest in my behalf, but declined to 
stop. I was glad, a few days afterwards, that I had 
continued on, for I read of a raid which the enemy's 
cavalry made in that very section. All along the 
route my fellow-passengers vied with each other in 
relieving my necessities, doing all in their power to 
make me comfortable. 

I arrived in Washington about the middle of the 
day, exhausted in mind and body. Anxious, above 
all else, to get to my home in Trenton, N. J., I 
hastened up to the office of the adjutant-general. 
The doorman had the goodness (after I had stood 
half- dead against the wall for some time) to bring 
me a chair. In attempting to scat myself in it I 
fell to the floor, the chair rolling over, creating quite 
a racket. The noise brought an assistant adjutant- 



286 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

general from an adjoining room in a hurry. He 
wanted to know what had occurred, and the door- 
man explained. I gave my papers to the adju- 
tant-general, who looked them over two or three 
times, handling them in a nervous manner, and look- 
ing at me sharply, said, ** The deuce!" Bidding 
me *' be seated," he said, ** You have had a long 
journey, and I suppose you would like to go to your 
home for awhile. I'll attend to your case at once." 
He then withdrew, reappearing, after a few minutes, 
returning my papers. His orders were that I should 
return to my regiment within fifteen (15) days, which 
proved that Republics were grateful indeed. I ap- 
prehend that my feelings at that moment were a 
little unkind towards the adjutant-general, for he 
had seen me, and he knew I was in no condition to 
go back to the army. I choked with anger, but re- 
strained myself, for it would not do to tell the fel- 
lows who had a soft place in that office what I 
thought of them. They knew nothing about war 
and its vicissitudes, except what was told them ; and 
yet a stranger entering the office would imagine the 
clerks there had the entire responsibility of the war, 
and that it would never end till they ended it. 
Drawing my blanket closely about my shoulders, I 
left the office, glad to get into the open air. 

Having but a small amount of money in my pos- 
session, I wondered, on gaining the street, how I 
was to get to my home or to my regiment. I 
knew no one in Washington to whom I could apply 
for assistance. What, then, was I to do ? Here I 



GRATITUDE OF REPUBLICS. 28/ 

was at the capital of the nation — an " officer and a 
gentleman," sick and sore, without a friend and 
without money. I could not help contrasting my 
present position with that of a few weeks since, 
when, in the heart of great swamps, the poor ne- 
groes waded to me bearing supplies. There I was 
almost sure of assistance from the poorest of God's 
creatures. Here in my own country, at the seat of 
the government I served, I was destitute. The 
adjutant-general could have given me an order for 
transportation, or he could have asked me if I needed 
help, but with his great cares of red tape resting on 
his mind, he forgot to do either. 

I knew not what to do, or which way to turn my 
steps, but while walking along I noticed the office 
of the paymaster-general. It occurred to me that I 
could obtain a portion of my pay there, so I walked 
or staggered across the street, but found the lower 
door guarded by a cavalryman, armed with a drawn 
sabre. I stepped upon the large stone stoop, which 
he was pacing, when he gruffly said, " You can't 
come in here I " 

*' I am an officer," I responded, throwing back 
the blanket, and thus exposing to his view the bars 
on my blouse. He replied that it didn't make any 
difference to him what I was. It was " after hours," 
and no one could enter. That fellow, who had been 
serving his country all through the war on that 
stoop, wounded my feelings. So pushing him to one 
side, I rushed by him before he could recover him- 
self, and ran up stairs, he all the time yelling, '' halt!" 



288 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

" halt ! " On reaching the upper landing the guard 
tripped me, causing me to fall upon the floor, my 
head striking a door. He seized me and was shak- 
ing me roughly, when an old white-haired gentle- 
man suddenly appeared in the hallway. He inquired 
the cause of the tumult, and the sentry told him 
the facts in the case, when he directed the guard to 
release me and return to his post, and invited me to 
follow him. The excitement and exertion in run- 
ning up stairs had so much exhausted me, that I 
regained my breath with great difficulty. The old 
gentleman led me to a lounge near his desk, and 
inquired where I came from. I replied briefly, 
handing him the adjutant-general's order, saying my 
greatest wish was to get money to pay my passage 
to my home. 

He told me not to ** worry about that," as he 
would supply me with all that was necessary for the 
purpose. Then he made inquiries as to when I had 
last been paid. I replied that Major H. L. King had 
paid me in January, 1864, to December ist, 1863. 

** Major King," exclaimed the old man, "why, 
the major was in this room but a few minutes ago, 
and I am now expecting his return. Now, if the 
major can recognize you, you will have no difficulty 
in getting all the money due you." 

This was good news, and true enough, in came 
the major. He failed to recognize me. And who 
could have recognized me as I then looked? En- 
tering into conversation with the major, I reminded 
him of an incident which occurred while he was 



KIND-HEARTED OFFICIALS. 289 

paying my command on the steamship '' Virginia," 
off Fortress Monroe, Va., in January, 1864. 

*' Oh, yes, General," said Major King, ** I re- 
member Drake very well. At the time he speaks 
of, he was in command of a company in the Ninth 
New Jersey, and unless his wife has drawn from this 
office, he has nearly a year's pay due him." 

A general ! what general was this ? As I soon 
afterwards ascertained, he was the Paymaster- 
General of the United States Army. God bless 
him ! He asked me if my wife had drawn any 
portion of my pay, to which I replied, " Not that I 
am aware of. I have never received a single word 
from her or from New Jersey since my capture." 
Turning to Major King, the general said : 

"Well, Major, go over to the office, and make 
the necessary examination ; and if all is right, give 
Drake a check in full to date, for he deserves it all." 
Taking me by the hand, he bade me ** good bye, and 
a pleasant journey home." 

I accompanied the genial major to another build- 
ing, and entering a room, saw a large envelope post- 
stamped Trenton, N. J., lying upon a table. I rec- 
ognized the handwriting of the superscription as 
that of my wife ; and with my heart fluttering like 
an unwilling bird in a cage, I picked it up and 
handed it to the major. It was an acknowledgment 
from my wife that she had received " four hundred 
dollars from the pay department on account." 

The major explained that wives of prisoners 
could draw the ** pay proper" tip to the date of the 



290 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

last letter received from husbands. Then my wife 
had received some of my letters — that was certain. 
Even the few words contained in that business letter 
gave me pleasurable emotions, and relieved my mind 
of a great weight — a terrible anxiety. The major 
examined the rolls, and gave me a cheek for some 
eleven hundred dollars, for which I thanked him — 
then hastened to the depot, on the way to which I 
stopped at the office of the Christian commission, 
deposited the check, drew one hundred dollars in 
greenbacks, gave directions as to where the balance 
should be forwarded, and in half an hour afterwards 
was speeding over the iron rail towards Trenton. 

Our train was due in Trenton at about three or 
four o'clock A. M., if I remember rightly, but an 
accident near Philadelphia delayed us for several 
hours. 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

HOME again! 

THE train at length stopped at the depot, and 
the next moment I stood upon the platform. 
Nobody appeared to notice me as I staggered up 
the winding way. I saw several whom I knew, but 
did not feel like making myself known to them. 
Charles W. Jay, a custom-house officer, passed me, 
reading a Philadelphia paper. He raised his eyes to 
mine as I bumped up against him, then went on. 



''HOME AGAIN!" 29 1 

In a moment, however, he overtook me, and look- 
ing into my emaciated face, said, with some emo- 
tion, " Is \.\i\^ you, Drake?" 

" Yes," I whispered, for I had no voice. 

" Good God, what a sight ! I have just been 
reading about your arrival in Knoxville, but I had 
no idea of meeting you so soon." 

My old friend offered to procure a carriage, but 
as that would require some additional time I de- 
clined his offer. He accompanied me a short dis- 
tance, then went on his way. 

How wildly my heart beat as I came within sight 
of my home! Stretched across the sidewalk, from 
an upper window to a tree along the curb, was an 
American flag, bearing the words *' Lincoln and 
Johnson." The window-blinds, from the basement 
to the upper floors, were closed tightly, which 
caused me some anxiety; but I continued on, and 
at last had my trembling hand upon the bell-pull. 
I heard the tinkling of the bell, but no answer came. 
Not a sound could I hear. I repeatedly pulled the 
bcU-handle — still the summons was unheeded. I 
was about to turn away, when I heard a man shout at 
the top of his lungs ; and looking down the street, I 
saw Mr. Charles Howell, whom I knew well, running 
towards me. His cry had alarmed the neighbor- 
hood, and people rushed to their doors, thinking a 
fire had broken out. Among others thus attracted 
to the street was my mother-in-law, Mrs. Taylor, 
who lived directly opposite. 

I was assisted over to Captain Taylor's, where I 



292 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

learned that my wife and boy were absent from the 
city — on a Thanksgiving visit to my parents in Eliz- 
abeth. I was now weaker than I had been at any 
previous time — the excitement and joy caused by 
being at home again being more than I could bear 
up under. It is needless for me to say, that my 
wife and boy — the latter three and a half years old 
— had a joyful reunion on their arrival from Eliza- 
beth that evening, the joy of which will live in my 
memory as long as I have an existence. 

I was at last with the loved ones, from whom, all 
through my dreary captivity, I had never heard one 
word, and who had begun to despair of seeing me 
again this side of that river which all of us must 
ford at the roll-call from above. 

The news of my return to Trenton spread like 
wildfire, and during the day and evening hundreds 
called to congratulate me. Next day, Sunday, my 
house was literally besieged, not only by acquaint- 
ances, but also by many whom I did not know — all 
expressing pleasure at my return. 

I need not tell with what animation I rehearsed 
the story of my sufferings and escape, nor how 
many friends cheered me by kindly offices. You 
can imagine it all ; and if you have ever been in such 
peril as I had escaped, you will understand what I 
mean when I say that life seemed to me, in these 
first days of deliverance, like a resurrection, in which 
I stood with a crown upon my head and shining 
pathways, leading heavenward, stretching away in 
reaches of splendor before my weary feet. 



MINISTERING ANGELS. ^93 

For a week or two I was compelled to keep to a 
lounge, the skin having peeled off both my feet, the 
flesh cracking open and bleeding. Of course I did 
not lack for kind attention, for my family and the 
entire neighborhood did all in their power to alle- 
viate my distress. 

Dr. James B. Coleman and Dr. Richard R. 
Rogers, in daily attendance, availed themselves of 
all the appliances of science in treating me, as for 
several days they feared it would be necessary to 
amputate my feet to prevent mortification. But 
thanks to their attention and skill, under the bless- 
ing of Providence, this was finally deemed unneces- 
sary. Among a score or more of ladies especially 
interested in my welfare and recovery, and who with 
the greatest kindness ministered to the restoration 
of my feet, were Mrs. William Lee and Mrs. Henry 
J. Bennett. 

The press throughout the State and country 
published accounts of my escape, expressing the 
opinion that the tramp was the most remarkable on 
record. Harper s Weekly of January 14, 1865, con- 
tained nearly a page of my story. 

Dr. Rogers, government examining surgeon, ex- 
tended my leave till the first of January, 1865, when 
I set out to rejoin my regiment, at that time recu- 
perating on Bogue Sound, North Carolina. On the 
train which I took at Trenton for Baltimore, I met 
my good friend, Captain Thomas Burnett, of New 
Brunswick, one of the best drilled men in the army. 
I was glad to meet with my comrade. My feet still 



294 FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

being quite sore and tender I was compelled to wear 
slippers during the trip. At Baltimore we took 
passage on the steamboat *' Georgiana," for Fortress 
Monroe. About midnight, while all save those who 
navigated our steamer were buried in profound slum- 
ber, the schooner ^' John Walker," heavily freighted 
with oysters, in an hour of intense darkness ran 
violently against the steamer, crashing through ten 
of her state-rooms, and precipitating the ladies and 
gentlemen who occupied them, upon the decks be- 
low or into the tempestuous waves. Although the 
deck hands made heroic efforts to save them, eight 
lost their lives. Captain Burnett, with whom. I was 
sleeping on a mattress on the floor of the main 
saloon, directed me to don my apparel, which I did 
in a hasty manner, and followed him outside. On 
reaching him, I found he had secured the gangway 
** bridge," quite a ponderous structure, and had it in 
a position to cast over the rocking vessel's side — 
each of us expecting the shattered vessel would 
speedily founder. 

- For a time a scene of the wildest confusion pre- 
vailed ; but when Admiral Farragut, whom I had a 
pleasant chat with in the early part of the night, 
came down from his state-room, the fouling schooner 
was speedly cleared, and the "" Georgiana" slowly 
continued her course — keeping close, however, to 
the Virginia shore, reaching her dock several hours 
behind her regular time. 

I rejoined the Ninth at Carolina City, a few miles 
above Beaufort, where it had been ordered to camp 



FINAL DISCHARGE. 295 

as a sanitary measure, the men being worn out with 
the great fatigues of the previous Summer's cam- 
paign in front of Petersburg and at Cold Harbor. 
Colonel James Stewart, jr., and his officers and men, 
gave me a cordial welcome, none of us retiring very- 
early that night. Colonel Stewart (afterwards a 
brigadier-general) would not listen to my appeals 
for a discharge. On the contrary, he promoted me 
to a captaincy, begging me to remain with him, 
even though I should be unable to do active service. 
I received my commission as captain, but declined 
to be mustered, and yet I failed to get my discharge 
until the nth day of April, 1865, when, the war 
being over, I returned to my home, the regiment 
following in July. 

Colonel Stewart approved my application for a 
discharge as follows : 

" Respectfully approved. Lieutenant Drake was 
captured by the enemy May 16, 1864, but succeeded 
in effecting his escape in October. He marched 
800 miles barefooted through the swamps and over 
the mountains, one of which (Blue Ridge) was cov- 
ered with snow. His feet are frosted, and he is 
otherwise generally used up. 

" Lieutenant Drake is a most valuable officer, 
and I regret to lose his services ; but I do not think 
he will be fit for field-service for many months to 
come. 

"James Stewart, Jr., 

" Colonel Commanding (^th, N. J. V. V." 



29^ FAST AND LOOSE IN DIXIE. 

The regiment was never engaged with the enemy 
(except during my imprisonment in the South) un- 
less I was with it, for it was a deh'ght to me to share 
the dangers as well as the pleasures of my comrades. 

Perhaps some will pardon me for saying that I 
was presented with a bronze medal by Congress (on 
the recommendation of General Stewart to General 
Ulysses S. Grant) for '' gallantry and bravery T The 
medal I shall take pleasure in transmitting to one 
of my sons. 



APPEK"DIX. 



DOCUMENTARY VERIFICATION. 

I HAVE read the MSS. of your forthcoming book with great in- 
terest. Although many years have elapsed, and that which was so 
vividly real to us then now seems like a dream, as I read your book I 
live over again the days of our prison life, and the long weary march 
through the enemy's country, and wonder how we lived through it 
all. Those who read your faithful portrayal of our " adventures by 
flood and field," will, I doubt not, wonder also. — J. E. Lewis (for- 
merly Captain nth Conn. Vols.), ^aw/^^r, 74 Cedar Street, New York. 

Our journey, from near Charleston, S. C, to near Knoxville, Tenn., 
seems more like a dream than a reality. * * * I would like very 
much to meet yourself, Lewis, and Todd in Washington, or such other 
place as would be most convenient, and talk over that part of our 
history, for I think it was one of the most remarkable escapes, with 
its incidents, that has ever occurred. — Capt. Alfred Grant, 19M 
Wiscotisin Vols., Washington, D. C. 

Your leap from a train of cars, on which I also was an unwilling 
passenger, above Charleston, S. C, was a daring deed, while your long 
and dangerous journey through South Carolina, North Carolina, and 
East Tennessee, without guide or compass, is considered one of the 
most remarkable on record. The book will be thrillingly interesting, 
— Capt. Seth B. Ryder, Sheriff, Union County, N. J. 



298 APPENDIX. 

A narrative of this description, from so gallant a soldier as your- 
self, cannot fail to be replete with valuable historical data, and many 
thrilling and interesting incidents. And as my battery was closely as- 
sociated with your regiment (the fighting 9th New Jersey) in the late 
war, and as / ivas an eye-wiiness of your desperate and wonderful leap 
for liberty from the train which was conveying us, as prisoners of war, 
from Charleston to Columbia, on that memorable afternoon of Octo- 
ber 6, 1864, I shall wait with pleasure the day when the book will be 
placed in my hands. Permit me, therefore, to congratulate you upon 
the opportunity you have of giving this treasure to the historian and 
student, and to wish the book a warm and hearty reception. — James 
Belger, late Captain Battery F, 1st R. I. Artillery, and Chief Head- 
Ckrk, New York Post Office. 

Your note with enclosed copy of your narrative is just received, 
and I will take an early day to read over the thrilling account of your 
wanderings while escaping from a rebel prison. Please accept my 
thanks for the note and narrative, and believe me, with great respect, 
your obedient servant, U. S. Grant. 

I am familiar with the many stirring incidents of your imprison- 
ment and escape from the rebel prison-pens, and can bear testimony 
to the enthusiastic reception you met at the hands of your comrades 
upon your return to the regiment, A narrative vividly portraying 
your experience will be a valuable addition to the historical records 
of those days of the war.— Lieut.-Col. Samuel Hufty, c)th N.y. V. 
and Dep.-Cotn. of G. A. R. of N. J. 

The narrative of your capture, imprisonment, and escape during 
the civil war has been read by me with much interest. Being ac- 
quainted with your comrades, Captains Grant and Todd, I was par- 
ticularly interested in your reference to them in your journal. I dis- 
tinctly remember seeing you meet these gallant officers at Chicago, in 
1868, for the first time after your escape from Southern prisons. It 
does seem right that the reminiscences of your personal history should 
be published in a more permanent shape than the columns of a daily 
newspaper, and I sincerely trust you will be able to give them to the 
public in book form. — Br. Maj.-Gen. W. S. Stryker, Adjutant- 
General of New Jersey. 



APPENDIX. 299 

* * * Your book revives the sad but glorious memories of the past, 
when with the old " Ninth" you and I were on the marches and in 
the battles together. Your example as a brave officer was a continual 
inspiration to us soldiers in the ranks, and I well x-emember that you 
never ordered a private soldier into any perilous position unless you 
led the way, and while sticking to the boys at Drury's Bluff you were 
captured. The consequences of your imprisonment in the vile rebel 
dens will be borne by you in your body to the grave. — Edmund J. 
Cleveland, late Private Co. K, ()th N. J. Vols., Elizabeth, N. J. 

I learn that you are about to publish in book form a narrative of 
your capture, imprisonment, and escape during the Rebellion. It is 
a period in the history of your army life, the description of which must 
prove vastly interesting, not only to your personal friends and com- 
rades, but to all who retain any recollection of interest in the dangers 
and sufferings which our brave soldiers had to undergo during that 
eventful period. * * * If we except that part of the campaign of 
1864 when you were in rebel hands, and the closing scenes of 1865, 
when, in consequence of your imprisonment and escape, you were 
physically incapacitated from being with us, you were present with 
every movement of the regiment, and by your valuable services helped 
make the proud reputation it enjoyed with our people, and still holds 
in the records of the State. I bespeak for the book the circulation 
which its merits must deserve, and which the deservings of the author 
entitle it to. — Brig.-Gen. James Stewart, Jr., Colonel c^th N. J. 
Vols., 131 N. Water Street, Philadelphia. 

* * The thrilling adventures that you passed through after es- 
caping from the Confederate guards, appear like a romance, and all 
of our old comrades in arms should have the privilege of reading it. 
While it may be that I can add but little to your reputation as a sol- 
dier, still I wish to give my testimony, with other officers of our regi- 
ment, to your gallant conduct, soldierly bearing, and general efficiency 
during your four years of service with us ; and I shall always cherish, 
with the liveliest feeling of pleasure, the fact that I have had the 
honor to be associated with yourself, and so many other good and 
brave men in helping to reestablish the national authority. — Lt.-Col. 
William B. Curtis, ()th N. J. V., Postmaster, Pennington, N. J, 



300 APPENDIX. 

I have just received a copy of the N. y. Journal of Nov. 29th, an- 
nouncing your arrival at Trenton. I heartily congratulate you upon 
your escape from rebeldom and safe arrival in God's country and to 
the bosom of your beloved family. I would be pleased to hear from 
you as soon as you have recovered from your fatigue. — Genl. C. A. 
Heckman, Commanding i^th Corps, Army of the James, 

Your letter containing a brief account of your remarkable escape 
from Dixie, is at hand, and although I feel quite unwell, yet must 
write you. It affords us all unfeigned pleasure that you are out of 
the hands of the rebels, whose tender mercies are cruel, notwithstand- 
ing their pretensions to chivalry. During marches and in battles you 
endured much, but none of us have had your sad experience in rebel- 
dom. If honor is due us, you have merited a double honor in your 
boldness to escape from rebel clutches, and in your perseverance 
shown in reaching our lines. We are glad you are safe at ho^ne, and 
hope before long to see you with us, ready once more to fight for the 
old flag — the emblem of nationality, and of power, too, in a sense 
never known before. Let me congratulate you on your escape, and 
on your being able once more to mingle with your friends. 

* * * The services you performed before connecting yourself 
with the 9th N. J. Vols, are known throughout the State. Subsequent 
to that time, I can vouch for your faithfulness in duty and downHght 
pluck. I will never forget -the inarch to Goldsboro, under General 
Foster— the 9th having the advance. 160 miles and four battles in 
eleven days. Do you remember, upon return, of falling down in your 
tent unable to remove your shoes from blistered feet? * * * Wish- 
ing you every success, etc.— Jon. Townley, Jr., Capt. <^th N. J. Vols. 

I am glad you have consented to publish your wonderful adven^ 
tures in book form. Eveiy one who admires heroic endurance, in- 
domitable pluck, and loyalty to the " Good Old Flag," will be glad 
to read the work — for your " notes" surpass anything I ever read in 
novels. — W. Halsted Mellach, Department of Agriculture, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

I am personally familiar with many of the places to which you 
make accurate reference in this volume. You have not only narrated 



APPENDIX, 301 

a most eventful and brave performance, but you have endowed a per- 
fectly natural style with such indubitable honesty and candor of state- 
ment, that every one who reads two pages in your book will go right 
off to himself and read all the rest at once, in pure greed of pleasure. 
If our boys could read such books as this, dime novel fiction would 
cease, and the country would grow more heroes and fewer Indian- 
story vagabonds. — W. B. Smith, Esq., New York City. 

Although I had made repeated attempts to obtain the post-office 
address of '* Bill Estes," and others of my friends who aided me in 
the North Carolina mountains, yet I was never able to reach them 
until this year. Addressing a letter to the Postmaster at Lenoir, N. C, 
for information concerning my friends, I shortly afterwards received 
a letter from Mr. J. Mason Spainhour, giving me the desired infor- 
mation, for which I thank that gentleman. The following letters are 
in answer to those I first wrote, and they will fully explain them- 
selves. — J. M. D. 

Glenburnie, Caldwell Co., N. C, March 23, 1880. 
Gen. J. Madison Drake: 

My Dear Sir — I received your letter a few days ago (which was 
very unexpected), and was very glad to hear from you, I would be 
glad indeed to see you, though I never expected to see you again. 

* * * I am living in Mitchell County, my farm being about twenty 
miles from father's. When your letter reached mother, she was so 
glad that she sent a courier to me expressly to let me know about it. 

* * * The names of the two women who were in the sugar-cane 
field when I first saw you, are Julia Setser and Sarah Teague, both 
of whom are still living near father's. You ask me if mother still has 
the gold ring you gave her. She says to tell you that she has it, and 
has always kept it sacred. Father and mother wish me to tell you 
that the rebels about broke them up in the time of the war, but we 
are about to recover at last. 

There is no man I want to see more than you. I want to talk 
with you about the time you were with us. I remember the " old blue 
vest" you gave me. I want you to come down here next fall, with- 
out fail, and if you will give me a little warning, I will meet you at 
Icard Station (my nearest point to railroad) at any time. I shall look 
for you till you come. Yours truly, Joseph Estes. 



302 APPENDIX. 

CoLLETTSViLLE, N. C, March 27, 18S0. 
Gen. J. Madison Drake: 

Dear Friend — Your letter is at hand. Never was I more pleased 
at the reception of a letter than yours. My dear friend, many years, 
with their trials, have passed since we parted near Greenville, Tenn. 
Our separation was caused by some rebel cavalry running upon us. I 
succeeded in getting away, and although disabled by rheumatism in 
my leg, finally got to my home. I am much pleased to hear of your 
preparing a book of your " tramp," etc. Would any of our names be 
of interest to you in writing your book? You are, dear sir, at liberty 
to use them therein. I would be glad to have a copy of it. Often 
have we talked of you, and wondered whatever became of you. 
Nothing would delight me more than to see you and have a long talk 
of the past. As my wife wants to see you as much as I do, she wants 
to write you a few lines in this, and I give way to her. Please write 
often. Very truly yours, 

William Estes. 

Gen. Drake: 

Absetit Friend — I have often wondered whatever became of you. 
I very well remember the Sabbath morning I brought you your break- 
fast, and of " wading the creek," also, the feather beds we brought 
you to sleep upon, but I hope I can give you a good bed to sleep on 
in the house when you come down. The ring you gave me I have 
yet, and will keep it as long as I live, as a memento of you. Your 
photograph I was pleased to see. It resembles you much, and re- 
minds me of terrible times in the past. Write us as often as con- 
venient. Very truly, 
, Mrs. William Estes. 

P. S. — The names of our children are as follows : Joseph, Henry, 
Theodore, Nancy, Caroline, and Cordelia. They are all living, and 
grown up. 



APPENDIX, 303 

II. 
HISTORIC SUBSTANTIATION. 

In the history of " New Jersey and the Rebellion," written by 
Mr. John Y. Foster, occurs the following sketch : 

"Captain J. Madison Drake, 

At the time the war broke out, was a citizen of Trenton, where he 
he had been for some years connected with journalism. He was 
among the first to enlist, and within three days after the fall of Sum- 
ter, recruited seventy-seven men. Being chosen captain, he declined 
the position, and served with the Third Regiment (three months' men) 
as color-bearer. Upon his return, he organized another company for 
the war, but troops not being at that time received, he returned to 
his business. When, however, the Ninth Regiment was formed, he 
joined it as a sergeant of Company K, in which position he served 
for eighteen months, when he was made Second Lieutenant of Com- 
pany D, having meanwhile declined a captaincy in another regi- 
ment. After commanding Company D for a year, he was made First 
Lieutenant of Company K. In the battle of Drury's Bluff, May 16, 
1864, he was captured while in the advance, and after being confined 
for some time in Libby Prison, was carried to Macon, Georgia, 
thence to Savannah, and thence to Charleston, suffering all the hor- 
rors which rebel malignity could inflict, but finally, in October, after 
wandering in the swamps and mountains, reaching the Union lines in 
safety. This gallant officer was warmly welcomed on his return — the 
story of his marvellous escape finding many listening ears. Colonel 
Stewart at once promoted him to a captaincy, but Drake's ill health 
prevented his muster in for another three years." 

Fro7n the " History of New Jersey in the Rebellion" 

On the 14th of January (1865), Lieutenant J. Madison Drake, who 

was captured at Drury's Bluff, Va., on the i6th of May, 1864, returned 

to the Regiment (Ninth), having effected his escape from the rebels 

by leaping from a train of cars while in transitu from Charleston 



304 APPENDIX. 

to Columbia, South Carolina, and marching some seven hundred or 
eight hundred miles, most of the distance barefooted, and without hat 
or suitable clothing. 

This gallant officer was warmly welcomed on his return — the story 
of his marvellous escape finding many listening ears. Colonel Stewart 
at once promoted him to a captaincy, but the ill health of Lieutenant 
Drake prevented an acceptance of the position. The colonel, anx- 
ious of retaining his services, then kindly offered him an honorable 
position on his staff, but this was also necessarily declined, the lieu- 
tenant preferring his old position in the command. 

Drake's escape was remarkable and romantic ; and with no shadow 
of the old peril on his face, he still lives to do battle for the principles 
for which he nobly suffered. 

From Everts" History of the ()th N. y. V. Vols. 

At the return of Lieutenant Drake to the regiment, he was of- 
fered a captaincy, or the appointment as quartermaster, if he wished 
to remain ; neither of which he could accept, because of frozen feet 
and general debility, contracted and produced in rebel prisons, on 
long marches and exposures of all kinds during his travels. 

From Raum's History> of Trenton, N. J. 

The America Hose Company, No. 2, has in its house the first 
Union colors* that crossed the Long Bridge over the Potomac dur- 
ing the rebellion, and which were planted in Fort Runyon, Virginia. 
Company C, Third Regiment, was organized by J. Madison Drake, 
foreman of the America Hose Company, thirty-two members of which 
organization attached themselves to the Third Regiment within two 
hours after intelligence of the fall of Fort Sumter was received. Drake 
declined to lead the company to the war, but served faithfully as 
Ensign of the Third Regiment during the term of enlistment — three 
months. Lieutenant Franklin S. Mills (ex-Mayor of Trenton) asserts 
that Ensign Drake unfurled the first flag on the enemas soil. 

* In June, 1875, the America Hose Company, of Trenton, on their way to 
the Eastern States, stopped at Elizabeth, and marching to the residence of 
their old commander, presented these colors to him, thousands of people wit- 
nessing the ceremony. The colors were carried by Drake in the first cam- 
paign of the war. 



APPENDIX, 305 

III. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF CAPT. SETH B. RYDER, 

Brevet Major Fifth New York Vol. Cavalry. 

Captain Seth B. Ryder, to whom I am indebted for many kind- 
nesses during my captivity, who participated in my miseries, inspired 
me with hope, and who was on the train of cars from which I leaped, 
was born in Vermont, in 1830. His grandfather served his native 
land in the war of the Revolution, in Elisha Sheldon's famous legion. 
It was from his patriotic ancestor that young Ryder was imbued with 
love of country — from him that he first heard stories of camp and 
field, and from him that he received his first lessons in the art of war. 
At the time the rebellion flowered into hostilities, Ryder was engaged 
in the painting business in Albany, New York, whither his father had 
removed when Seth was a mere youth. Strong love of country hav- 
ing been inculcated in his breast by his venerable grandparent (long 
since gone to his reward), Ryder promptly made arrangements to enter 
the service. Love of adventure being strong in his nature, and with 
a view of seeing all in war there was to be seen, he speedily attached 
himself to the Fifth New York Cavalry (First Ira Harris Light Guard), 
and in September, 1861, was commissioned as a second lieutenant 
of Company D. In Januaiy, 1863, he was promoted to a captaincy, 
the honors of which position he bore as modestly as when a second lieu- 
tenant. I cannot attempt here to follow his brilliant career in eveiy 
engagement in which the Fifth Cavalry took part, from the time of his 
maiden charge on Ashby's men in the Valley, to the battle of Russell's 
Ford, on Robertson River, October 10, 1863, where, after performing 
prodigies of valor. Captain Ryder was charged upon and captured by 
General Stuart's body-guard, and carried away to vile prison pens. 

The day following the desperate engagement at Manassas Gap, in 
which Captain Ryder had distinguished himself by daring deeds, he 
was ordered off on an important and dangerous mission — his route 
being a long distance through a section of country then in the hands of 
the enemy. His thorough knowledge of the topography of the country 
gave him great confidence in his ability to outwit and escape any par- 
ties whom he might accidentally run across. But the best laid plans 



306 APPENDIX. 

of man " gang aft aglee " and while galloping along at the base of a 
mountain, near Orleans, he was suddenly surrounded by a number 
of wild-looking horsemen, and without ceremony escorted back over 
the hill into the depth of the great woods. His captor, Lieutenant 
Weaver, treated the captain with the utmost consideration and 
kindness, and on learning that Ryder had once befriended his family, 
Lieutenant Weaver permitted him, after a captivity of three days, 
to rejoin the Union army, even going so far as to escort his guest 
most of the way. 

After the battle of Gettysburg, where he greatly distinguished 
himself. Captain Ryder, in command of a battalion, actively assisted 
in the pursuit of Lee's army, and while thus engaged, found several 
hundred wagons belonging to the enemy, which he destroyed. A 
most enthusiastic soldier himself, Captain Ryder devoted his whole 
time and attention to his men, most of whom had grown up from 
boyhood with him. His great aim was to make his command effi- 
cient, and to this end he always led them in battle, and no men in the 
5th responded more promptly or with greater courage to the noble 
example of their commander. 

I will not dwell on Captain Ryder's captivity of eighteen months 
as a prisoner of war. His experience was quite similar to that of his 
sixteen hundred comrades, except that those around him were ever 
encouraged and benefitted by his cheerfulness of disposition and man- 
liness of character. It is true his spirit was somewhat embittered 
because he could not share the perils and enjoy the triumphs of his 
companions in arms who continued to breast the iron storm of war. 

Shortly after his muster out of the service — the war being over — 
Captain Ryder was induced to take up his residence in Elizabeth, 
N. J., where he resumed his old profession. His great intelligence, 
his correct business habits, and above all, his honesty, attracted to 
him a large share of trade, and every man who became acquainted 
with him also became his friend. Although he seldom attended po- 
litical meetings, yet, in 1872, the Republicans of Union County, with 
a view of complimenting the veterans of the war, elected him Sheriff 
by the largest majority ever given to any candidate there. Captain 
Ryder served a term of three years, winning friends from all classes 
and conditions — then returned to the painting business. In 1878, 
i\iQ people, taking the matter out of the hands of the politicians, again 



APPENDIX, 307 

elected him Sheriff by a majority of some eight hundred — his election 
for a second term being without precedent. 

Possessing in a marked degree noble traits of character, Captain 
Ryder wins the respect of all with whom he associates, and no other 
citizen of Union County has a larger circle of friends. Eminently 
generous and liberal, he never turns his back on a poor man, and his 
timely aid and wise counsels have saved many families from losing 
cherished homes. Numerous instances might be cited where the 
soldier's widow and her helpless offspring would have been turned 
from the threshold endeared to them by pleasant associations, but for 
his prompt efforts and liberal bounty in the day of adversity. While 
his charities, like the gentle showers of Spring, gave new life to per- 
sons ready to perish, he seemed to be surprised that such great results 
should be the fruits of what he was pleased to call his modest efforts. 
While Captain Ryder is noted for his unassuming deportment, few 
citizens exert so wide an influence in society. His genial qualities at 
once attract all with whom he comes in contact, the lowly and lofty 
alike admiring his gifts and graces. The man of culture appreciates 
the excellences of one so worthy of their regard, and the intelligent 
youth is decidedly happy when opportunity is afforded him to listen 
to incidents in the soldier's history, which, though narrated with 
great simplicity, affect him profoundly, and will be vivid pictures in 
his mind while life endures. 



IV. 
THE NINTH NEW JERSEY REGIMENT. 

This command was recruited as a regiment of riflemen, under 
special authorization of the Secretary of War, the recruitment com- 
mencing in September, 1861. On the fourth of December it pro- 
ceeded to Washington, nearly twelve hundred strong, creating a sen- 
sation as it marched through the streets of the capital. The Ninth 
was better armed, and more fully provided with ambulances, forges, 
etc., than any regiment which left New Jersey. The men had been 
recruited with great care, none but the strongest being accepted. 

It formed an important part of the Burnside expedition, and won 



308 APPENDIX. 

undying fame by its heroism at Roanoke Island, Newbern, and Fort 
Macon, being the first regiment from New Jersey to engage in battle. 
During the summer of 1862, the Ninth overran the lower part of North 
Carolina, driving the enemy from its various positions along the coast, 
thus depriving the Confederates of a large supply of salt which had 
been manufactured at various points. 

In December, 1862, the Ninth had the advance of Foster's corps, 
on the expedition to Goldsboro, which movement was intended to 
benefit Burnside in his advance across the Rappahannock. The 
Ninth, supported by Major James Belger's superb battery of Napo- 
leons, drove the enemy back step by step, opening the battles at Deep 
Creek, Southwest Creek, Kingston, Whitehall, and Goldsboro, doing 
terrific fighting during five days. The railroad bridge at the latter 
place was set on fire by Corporal James W. Green and private Elias 
C. Winans, of Company K, despite the efforts of thousands of Con- 
federates who labored to prevent its destruction, the act being one of 
the most daring on record. 

In January, 1863, the Ninth went to South Carolina, with Foster's 
division, to join in the attack on Charleston. A portion of the com- 
mand was disembarked in the Edisto river, and a reconnoissance made 
during the bombardment to which Fort Sumter was subjected by the 
monitors. Failing in their object, the iron-clad fleet moved back to 
Hilton Head, and a few days afterwards Heckman embarked his 
brigade for the old North State, going to the relief of Gen. Foster, 
who was besieged at Little Washington — glad to escape from the re- 
morseless martinet. Hunter. 

During the year 1863, the Ninth, brigaded with the 23rd, 25th, 
and 27th Massachusetts regiments, made harassing marches into the 
interior of North Carolina, doing infinite damage to the Confederacy, 
by cutting railroad connections, and by destroying cotton, lobacco, 
etc., raised for the support of the enemy. The regiment had many 
encounters with the Confederates, chief among which were the en- 
gagements at Deep Creek, Comfort, and Winton. 

The year 1864, however, was the period which tried the mettle of 
the Ninth's war-worn veterans, most of whom had reenlisted for the 
second term of three years. The Ninth participated in the raid co 
Cherry Grove, and was among the first regiments to land on Bermuda 
Hundred in May. It had the extreme advance of the loth and i8th 



APPENDIX, 309 

corps, and was the first to engage the enemy at Port Walthall, suf- 
fering severe loss. 

The Ninth had no respite from fighting from the time it landed at 
Bermuda Hundred until late in the fall, when it was sent back to its 
old " stamping ground " in North Carolina, to recruit and recuperate. 
In the ten days' engagements preceding the desperate battle of Drury's 
Bluff, the Ninth was allotted the hardest part of the work, and its ter- 
rible losses attest the character of its labors. 

In the sanguinary battle at the Bluff at an early hour on the morn- 
ing of the i6th, the gallant Colonel Abram Zabriskie, with Captains 
Lawrence, Harris, and Carroll, were killed, Lieut. Col. James Stew- 
art, Jr., and Captains Townley and Burnett, and Lieutenants Brown, 
Shepherd, and Hawk were wounded, while General Heckman and 
Lieutenants Peters and Drake were captured and taken to Richmond. 

The Ninth did severe duty through the summer in the works 
fronting Petersburg, often rushing like an avalanche to the aid of 
other commands. It participated in the battle of Cold Harbor on 
the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of June, fighting with desperate valor in the 
front line, to which it marched on landing at White House. On the 
1 2th, the Ninth covered the withdrawal of Grant's army, which 
moved to take a new position. At the mine explosion, it acted as a 
reserve to the Ninth Corps. 

The Ninth was before Petersburg sixty-four days, fighting forty 
days in the rifle-pits, from which it was dangerous to move owing to 
the contiguity of the enemy. In September, the regiment, under 
command of the gallant Stewart, was sent to North Carolina, where 
it remained until the close of the war. During the winter it was 
kept busy " raiding," engaging in no less than three fights during 
December — at Gardner's Bridge, Butler's Bridge, and Foster's Bridge. 

In March, the Ninth led Schofield's host in its advance to Golds- 
boro, having a terrific encounter with the enemy at Southwest Creek, 
March 7th, at Wise's Fork, March 8th, 9th, and roth, and capturing 
Goldsboro' March 2ist — the Mayor surrendering the city to Colonel 
James Stewart, Jr., commanding the regiment and division. The 
Ninth's colors were quickly unfurled from the Court House, amid the 
cheers of the troops marching up the main street. Next day the ad- 
vance of Sherman's army entered the city — the reunion of the two 
armies being a joyful event. 



3IO APPENDIX. 

Foster's " History of New Jersey and the Rebellion " says : " New 
Jersey will ever be proud of the (Ninth) regiment, which thus, having 
helped to achieve a just and honorable peace, folded its standards and 
passed into history. Its story is the story of the war — its eulogy its 
own great deeds. During its term of service it participated in forty- 
two battles and engagements, and travelled by railroad and on foot a 
distance of seven thousand six hundred and fifty-two miles, making, 
while in North Carolina, some of the most remarkable marches on 
record. Entering the service with one thousand one hundred and 
forty-two men, and at various times strengthened by recruits, the mean 
strength of the regiment, when mustered out, was only six hundred 
men. Ten officers offered their lives as a sacrifice on the nation's 
altar, while twenty-three received wounds in battle, most of them of 
a serious nature. Sixty-one enlisted men were killed in battle, and 
four hundred wounded. Forty-three men died from wounds, and one 
hundred from disease. The total loss of the regiment, from all 
causes, was 1,646 men. The entire number of officers and men taken 
prisoners was about one hundred and thirty, forty-seven of this num- 
ber dying while in the hands of the enemy." 



THE END. 



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